Press Releases

Only six percent of children drink the recommended 6-8 glasses of water a day recommended by the World Health Organization, according to new research by Highland Spring, the leading UK produced brand of bottled water.

As children go back to school, the findings show almost a third (27%) of parents rely on their kids’ school to provide water.  Almost a quarter highlighted fizzy drinks as their child’s preferred choice and a fifth of parents revealed they would not be able to recognise the symptoms of dehydration in their child.

Parents in Scotland and Northern Ireland are most likely to provide water for school, with almost half (46 per cent) ensuring bottled water is in the daily lunchbox.

Children in Wales and South West England drink the least amount of water with 99% of parents claiming their kids drank less than six glasses a day.

Leading nutritionist, Amanda Hamilton, commented: “Ensuring children stay well hydrated is hugely important for their well-being - not to mention the day-to-day benefits of improved concentration in class.

“As a mum of a school-age child, water is certainly part of my daughter's lunchbox. A kids’ need for water is even higher if their diet is high in processed foods - a very common situation. I'd encourage all parents to take heed of the message that kids need to drink more water throughout the day.”

Sally Stanley, marketing director of Highland Spring said: “Parents are very aware of the quality of food they provide in their children’s lunchboxes, but it is surprising how often the quality of the drinks they provide are overlooked. I am certain that parents assume that drinking water is readily available and accessible at school, but this is not always the case.

“If children become conditioned at a young age to enjoy sugary soft drinks, then it could be a difficult habit to break. It would be great if more youngsters could start a healthy drinking habit early instead and what could be better than natural plain water.”

Highland Spring pioneered the kids’ bottled water market in 2001. Highland Spring for Kids is the No1 kids’ brand with over 39 per cent volume share. (Source: AC Nielsen 8/8/09)

This month (August), the company has launched new packaging for Highland Spring for Kids to coincide with the back to school season. Available in 330ml still and sparkling varieties, the bottles feature cartoon animals including an owl and rabbit, at home on Highland Spring’s protected organic catchment area in the Ochil Hills, Perthshire.
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• All figures, unless otherwise stated, were commissioned by Highland Spring and generated by Opinium Research.  Total sample size was 1,010 UK parents of children aged between 5 and 12.  Online interviews were undertaken in August 2009.
• The World Health Organization recommends that children should drink between 1.5 to 2 litres of water per day.
• A study was carried out by Joanne Almond, Healthy Schools Co-ordinator at Sandwell Healthy Schools Scheme in West Bromwich, West Midlands.  Almond found that children who regularly consume water in class “have demonstrated improved concentration levels; were less tired and lethargic; less children complaining of headaches; and generally more children have shown awareness of the importance of good hydration. (source: Water in Schools Evaluation March 2004)
• The Scottish Government paper, “School Meals in Scotland, 2009” reveals 47% of children opt for free or paid for school meals while 43% eat packed lunches.