The country is divided in two: in the North, the percentage of regular buyers is between 40 and 50 per cent, while in the South it drops below 40 per cent. Low uptake is also found in several Balkan countries and in many regions of Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, which is also included in the map.
Source
due to price increases and reduced availability especially of the very young (Gen Z)
The Wall Street Journal
One of the reasons why the world record gets little media attention is that no one wants to lose the 80 million budgets that bottling companies invest in advertising to differentiate a product that, in 90% of cases, is indistinguishable from others and where the brand can only be recognised by the colour of the label. When it comes to mineral water, the media prefer to focus on uncontroversial aspects such as the efficient recycling system, leaving out the critical economic and environmental issues.
For its part, the industry has always been very adept at conveying the image of excellent mineral water: pure at origin, with often invented health virtues (lightness, diet, sport...), and safe because it is authorised by the Ministry of Health. Being the first consumer in the world of a product perceived as healthy is implicitly considered a 'neutral' or even 'positive' record. Here, mineral consumption is seen as a cultural choice, as an established habit rather than a public network failure.
Simply because basic, recurring foods have reached unprecedented peaks: this is the case with milk, orange juice, meat. But also coffee and eggs.
Add to this petrol and the fact that salary increases have been overtaken by inflation.
This latest 'Shame on you Shein!' report looked at some of the best-selling garments sold by the Chinese fast fashion giant and found that one third of the garments tested 32% (18 out of 56) not only contained 11 substances considered toxic, but their quantity exceeded the limits set by the European Chemicals Regulation (REACH). Including children's clothes. Garments that are considered 'illegal' under EU law.
Amazon workers in more than 30 countries are also going on strike, accusing the e-commerce giant of fuelling inequality, undermining democratic rights by funding US President Donald Trump 's inauguration ceremony, and causing environmental damage.
The paradox of 'Black Friday' is obvious: as consumers prepare for one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, a growing part of the industry's workforce is using the very visibility of Black Friday to raise critical issues and demands.
Alibaba, Joom and Shein were recently investigated by the French authorities for selling dolls. Other e-commerce platforms, including Temu, Wish and eBay, are also under investigation for selling illicit products on their marketplaces. In some cases, these included weapons such as machetes and knuckles, as well as pornographic material accessible to minors...
France's resistance against Shein and similar platforms intensified this month following complaints to law enforcement agencies that dolls and other illegal products were being sold on some platforms. The reports coincided with the opening of Shein 's first permanent French shop in a Paris department store.
The opening of the BHV shop drew crowds of shoppers and protesters, while French retail associations lashed out at what they saw as unfair competition from companies circumventing French and European regulations...
Meanwhile, the EU said on Wednesday it was investigating Shein's potential sale of illegal products, particularly sex dolls and weapons, under the Digital Services Act, which regulates online content.
Below: gendarmerie in front of the BHV
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Also read about it here.
The first is called Makì and comes from Fano. Source
