‘Overpriced’ bottled water prices mother and father a staggering quantity on UK days out

Parents are expected to spend a whopping £60 on bottled water alone during their summer outings this year.

The typical family is predicted to embark on eight day trips, buying three bottles of water each time, which at an average cost of £2.50 per bottle, quickly adds up.

A survey of 1,000 parents with children aged between 0-17 revealed that two-thirds believe the price of water at attractions is extortionate.

Terri Cooper, from Aqua Pura, the mineral water brand that commissioned the study, commented: “Family days out are about having fun and making life-long memories, but the costs can easily add up.”

She suggested a clever hack of packing a car boot full of essentials like suncream, snacks, spare clothes, games, a rug and a large pack of bottled water to help keep costs down.

The reliance on buying water is blamed on a lack of access to water fountains (39%) and distrust in the quality of water at refill stations (26%).

Shared water fountains and refill stations are considered unhygienic by one in four parents, while 12% of children refuse to drink from them altogether.

Terri Cooper of Aqua Pura chimed in with some sage advice for parents looking to dodge such dilemmas: “There are a number of hacks parents can deploy to avoid issues like this, and it definitely pays to buy ahead.”

She revealed her top strategy for stretching the family budget on days out: “My top tip to maximise family days out on a budget is to plan ahead – it doesn’t take long to fill your car boot with all those family essentials.”

Terri also suggested some savvy spending tips: “Make your own budget-friendly snacks and stock up on £5 kids activity games that can be kept in the car, and the whole family can stay entertained and hydrated all summer.”