Careful, Don’t Spill

July 2024 was the initiation date for manufacturers in the UK to have included the tether on bottles sold across the European market.

The design of this product affects a huge reduction in litter. No longer can you detach bottle caps. Learning to drink from a water, gatorade or soda bottle takes some getting used to, and in a word… awkward. But you do adjust quickly. You don’t have a choice if you are unable to pour the product into a glass or cup. Drink cans have also been adjusted with no fully detachable pull tab. As North Americans, we have the inclination to give the cap a good tug, only to spill the contents on ourselves. So next time you are in the UK/British Isles and go to take a refreshing swig, beware of scraping your cheeks. Where are our environmentalists? The push here began in March 2025 but still hasn’t been put into effect. Why? Popular companies like Nestle and Crystal Geyser have begun to implement but it is not yet mandatory. Why? It is my hope that they do it over here as well, and soon.