There will be considerable implications for the Italian packaging industry following a law banning the sale of non-carbonated mineral water in Italian bars in any form other than closed bottles or those opened in front of the customer. The aim of the decree is to conserve the original purity of mineral water and allow the customer to access the product information shown on the label. The fact that this decree will naturally lead to the demand for flat water to be packaged in single dose bottles which leads to the re-development of the retail trade and bottling industry. The question is posed as to why this decree only applies to flat mineral waters when similar arguments can apply to carbonated waters. One reason is the possibility of fraud by bars who serve tap water for mineral water.
