In recent years, it has become 'de rigeur' to carry and drink water.
Is there any proof that this increase in water-drinking had any
beneficial effect on the overall health of the population?

---

Clarification of Question by poots-ga on 13 Jul 2006 12:48 PDT

I forgot one word, and would like to make a clarification:

Is there any proof that this increase in water-drinking HAS had any
beneficial effect on the overall health of the population? OR, ON THE
GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DRINKING ALL THIS WATER (MAINLY PEOPLE AGED
15-35).

I wonder if this trend actually increases water intake or just spreads it out.
Taking swigs from a pint (half liter) bottle during an outing may just
reduce thirst, so that at the end of the outing one doesn't drink as
much as one otherwise would have.