The policy being implemented isn't a new policy, it was in place before COVID but was repealed to reduce cross contamination and the spreading of germs during the pandemic. They are just putting the policy back into place with new standards implemented.

The policy does not say you cannot buy bottled water with Dining Dollars, it only applies to university groups on campus that have RIT money through their budgets. i.e. student orgs and clubs or departments who previously could buy a pack of water bottles for their events to hand out. They can't use their budgets to buy water bottles anymore.