First Class Glass: Bottle Of Water $55 In N.Y. (From the "You gotta be kiddin me" Dept.)

[shadowrider]

http://wcbstv.com/seenon/local_story_193212517.html

CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. It's not the first thing you think of when you think of bars, but the new drink of choice is also the oldest drink of choice.

Water is the latest trend when it comes to taste and a bit of marketing.

Glass, plastic, carbonated, non carbonated, high mineral content ... no, it's not a fancy drink or a fine wine. Diane Felicissimo is talking about the latest craze -- water.

It's a business making a splash. Americans spent more last year on bottled water than on iPods and movie tickets -- a whopping $15 billion.

Via Genova, a water bar in Chappaqua, N.Y. (home of Bill and Hillary Clinton), is cashing in on the craze, stocking water bottles that look more like collectors items.

"I have probably close to 80 different types of waters," owner Felicissimo said.

This luxury water comes from all over the world and contains magnesium, calcium and even potassium. One brand, "10 thousand B.C." is a top seller at $30 per bottle.

"They get it from British Columbia, Canada," Felicissimo said. "It's a three-day journey by yacht to get to their water source."

If you want some "Bling H2O," plan on paying an amazing $55 for less than a liter.

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And Felicissimo treats her water more like wine.

"I pair the waters with my food," Felicissimo said.

If you want to be a true water connoisseur, here are a few things to keep in mind:

You should keep your water out of the sunlight, serve it at 55 degrees, and, it should go without saying, ice is a big no-no.

"There are so many people that are uneducated about water," Felicissimo said.

CBS 2 HD hit the streets to find out: In the battle of top water vs. tap water, three out of four people we spoke with chose the expensive stuff.

Felicissimo knows all too well. She's already opened up a second location.

"(Within) five years I think more people will be drinking bottled water," Felicissimo said.

And perhaps pouring even more money into this already overflowing industry.

[PDJane]

1. It's damaging to the environment.

All the hydrocarbons spent on hauling the stuff around, bottling it in glass or plastic, and depleting the water table is just plain damn stupid.

Drink the tap water, folks..............

[Joe Fields]

2. Well put, and seconded...

:hi:

[Sanctified]

7. Drinking Tap Water if fine

if you live in a place where it tastes good. Here in Oregon I drink our water straight from the tap and it's great, we are pretty lucky where I am since they have not added fluoride to the water yet but they are talking about doing it. But I was visiting some family in Phoenix AZ last year and their tap water simply is not fit for consumption, the water was full of what my brother calls floaters it was vile and nasty. Even taking a shower in Phoenix water was disgusting, you felt like there was a film over you when you got out.

[Jed Dilligan]

10. Where I live, if you let your dishes air-dry,

they look like they've been painted white from all the calcium deposits. Plus, about once a decade there's a bacteria warning.

[Double T]

3. americans are suckers.........

and there will always be a fresh supply.

[EOTE]

4. Wow, 75% chose the water that costs infinitely more....

Imagine if in a blind test between a Geo Metro and a Bentley Continental if only 75% chose the Bentley? Not only are these people suckers, but they're the elite of the suckers.

[hughee99]

5. "There are so many people that are uneducated about water," Felicissimo said.

Of course there are, that's her target demographic. They are the ones paying $55 for a bottle of water.

Also, who the F' measures distance as "a 3 day journey by yacht"?

[Initech]

6. What the fuck is wrong with people?

Are they insane? $55 for a fucking bottle of water? What the fuck? Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!! :wow: :crazy:

[Mugu]

8. A fool and his money...

[BlooInBloo]

9. Tap water drinker here. Never been sick in my life.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

11. If you don't like the taste or smell of your local tap water,

get one of those Pur water filters that attaches right to the faucet.
Works for me.

Bottled water is a scam, nothing more.

[Catherine Vincent]

12. I hope the Clinton's aren't paying that much for their water. n/t

[Rosemary2205]

13. Snooty idiots

how do people that stupid ever get to be rich in the first place?