People with university degrees and higher income individuals share many characteristics, but drinking bottled water at home is not one of them.
According to a new Statistics Canada report, the higher an individual's household income, the more likely they would be drinking bottled water at home. About one-third of individuals with household income greater than $64,000 drank bottled water at home, versus a quarter of individuals with income less than $40,000.
But the prevalence of drinking bottled water notably declines depending on an individual's education level.
The report found that high income individuals with a high school education were the most likely to drink bottled water at home versus high income individuals with a university degree.
About 44% of high school graduates with a household income were primarily drinking bottled water at home, compared with 29% of high income university graduates.
The difference in preferences is probably the result of university graduates being more aware of the environmental, social and political issues around bottled water, the report said. They may also be more skeptical about any claims that bottled water is healthier than tap water.
Seniors and those living in apartments were also the least likely to drink bottled water at home.