Why buy water in bottles?

Why buy water in bottles?

It has always puzzled me why people buy "designer" water in bottles? In Our country we have the best public piped water in the world. Who would NOT drink fresh water from a tap?
Yet water costs a phenomenal amount in a bottle. 

Is it environentally friendly to put water in bottles and ship it miles around the country?

Some say it should be banned, I do think there is a case for people having the right to buy water in bottles if say you're going camping/hiking and what about civil emergencies? WE keep some bottled water in case of emergency.We could be flooded and cut off from mains. We only buy the cheap supermarket brand. Besides when the bottle is empty refill it from the tap.

Also why is it so expensive in pubs? I ask for a jug of water in a restaurant and don't expect to pay. 

Then there's soft drinks - often they are more expensive than beer! That is downright scandalous. WE are exhoted not to drink alcohol and certainly not if you're driving so why is a pint of coke" more than a pint of bitter - it should be pence!

In some supermarkets their own brand Cola is cheaper than bottled water so there, drink Cola!

ITS A RIP-OFF and should be illegal