Carrying water bottles now a lifestyle choice!
Hyderabad: In a city that’s warm most times of the year, carrying a water bottle is no longer just a necessity — it’s a lifestyle. From school corridors to office cubicles, the humble bottle is taking on a new personality.
“You can tell a lot about someone by their water bottle these days,” quipped Shravanthi Rao, teacher at a private school in Himayatnagar. “Kids walk in with bottles that light up, sing tunes, or feature their favourite cartoons. Parents believe it’s how they remember to drink water.”
Among younger schoolchildren, colourful bottles with sippers and characters like Chhota Bheem or Barbie are in demand, often matching their lunch boxes. “We go through three bottles a year,” said Supriya Narayan, a parent from Kukatpally. “They want new colours, new cartoons. But I make sure it’s BPA-free,” she said.
For professionals, function trumps flair. “I use a 1.8-litre bottle marked with water levels and time slots,” said Akshay Verma, who works in Gachibowli. “It tells me when I’m falling behind on hydration. It may not look pretty, but it keeps me accountable.”
Fitness buffs favour stainless steel and copper bottles for their durability and thermal insulation. “It keeps my water cold for hours and doesn’t leach chemicals,” said Maya Parasa, a personal trainer. Some prefer bottles with detachable fruit infusion chambers—lemon, cucumber, mint and tulsi being common picks.
There’s also a visible shift among the environmentally conscious. Reusable glass and metal bottles are gaining popularity. “I carry a glass bottle wrapped in a jute sleeve,” said R. Shilpa, a fashion consultant. “It’s clean, sustainable and honestly, looks great and starts a conversation about sustainability,” she told Deccan Chronicle.
Local vendors in Begum Bazaar and general stores in Dilsukhnagar say water bottle sales spike every summer, but the type of bottle has become more niche. “College students go for funky colours, while older people ask for leak-proof, easy-grip ones,” said Feroze, a shopkeeper in Koti. “We now stock bottles with built-in storage for tablets or keys too.”
Interestingly, affordability still plays a big role. “Delivery workers and auto drivers usually pick up basic plastic bottles under `70,” said Ramesh, who manages a roadside stall near Secunderabad station. “They’re easy to replace if lost or broken.”
Then, there are the ubiquitous PET bottles that are continuously reused. And half-used water bottles for which customers have paid at hotels and carry them away.
Whatever the reason—health, heat or habit—Hyderabadis are proving one thing: water bottles are no longer just vessels. They’re companions, reminders and sometimes, quiet statements of who you are.
