At least they were fairly recently. I gave up sodas over 10 years ago because people just drink way too much here. Water is definitely cheaper though. A 3.5 gallon (a little more than 12 liters) jug of purified water costs 1.50 USD give or take. A 2 liter Coke is about 1.25 USD give or take. So IMO cost isn't the issue. If you can afford to buy Coke, you can afford to buy water. I know people though that will not drink water with certain types of meals: tacos, tortas (really unhealthy sandwiches), tamales. Those have to be accompanied by Coke for some reason. I'm a water and unsweet tea man myself. Mexico just has a population with very unhealthy habits (more smoking here, more Coke, more sugar laden foods in general). They slap government warnings on everything. Marlboros have pictures of dead babies and amputated breasts on the packaging. Pancake mix has a label that says "Excess Sodium," and TV commercials for cereal like Frosted Flakes have onscreen messages that say "Do Exercise" or "Eat healthy." Some states in Mexico prohibit restaraunts from putting salt shakers on the table (you have to ask for it). People just don't care.

Making the tap water drinkable would involve replacing and upgrading generations of shoddy plumbing systems, and the government here is too corrupt and greedy to do that. Even then, people probably wouldn't drink it.
[Post edited by hokiemas at 08/23/2020 11:33AM]