We often see “cool” kids standing at the bus stop in the morning with cans of energy drinks in their hands. It’s better to drink water, but it matters what kind of water and from what source!

School has started

Caring parents send their children off to school with a water bottle, but some give them a bottle of soda, or perhaps money, and leave it up to the child to buy something…

My grandson just started first grade and was completely fascinated by the selection of sweets and soft drinks at the school cafeteria. He already knows that these products are not good for his health, and he has a super BPA-free water bottle filled with fresh tap water to quench his thirst. What’s more, he is proud that he got it from me and that it says WizzWell on it!

Bad habits for quenching thirst

I was completely shocked by an article by Economic Times that said there is a town Chiapas in Mexico where people drink more cola than water. Practically everyone there has now developed type 2 diabetes. Okay, this is an extreme case, but there are lessons to be learned. The reason is water scarcity caused by a Coca Cola factory that was built in the area, with a huge water quota purchased from the local government. The result: the town no longer has water, but cola is sold to the people at a very favorable price—cheaper than bottled water.

In affluent societies, such as ours in Europe, the problem is not that water is unavailable, but rather the abundance of unhealthy beverages, or beverages falsely advertised as healthy, that are “forced” on consumer society by marketing. The popularity of soft drinks among young people in the European Union is constantly changing, but some trends are clearly emerging.

A bad practice that can be observed today is that adolescents often drink energy drinks instead of breakfast or before exercise, which further increases the strain on the cardiovascular system. Unfortunately, drinking water—unless it is a branded and expensive product—is not trendy, and a significant proportion of young people are unaware of the importance of hydration and simply do not drink enough water.

Why is the consumption of soft drinks and energy drinks particularly dangerous for children?

Children’s self-regulation is not yet fully developed, so they tend to overconsume. Children’s nervous systems are still developing, so they are more sensitive to stimulants. The bodies of children and adolescents are much more sensitive to stimulants such as caffeine, sugar, and other ingredients commonly found in energy drinks and soft drinks.

Not only should the direct health effects of caffeine and sugar be taken into account, but also the fact that these ingredients are associated with hyperactivity, behavioral and attention disorders, and increase the likelihood of depression, stress, and aggression, which will also have a negative impact on the child’s environment.

Most popular soft drinks and trends among young people

• Sugary carbonated soft drinks: Classics such as Coca-Cola, Fanta, and Sprite remain popular, especially in fast food restaurants and at parties.
• Energy drinks: Red Bull, Monster, Hell – these are particularly popular among teenagers and young adults, especially during exam periods or before sports.
• Influencer brands: More and more young people are choosing soft drinks that are advertised by well-known TikTok or YouTube personalities or sold under their own brand names.
• Bubble tea and flavored waters: Asian-inspired drinks such as bubble tea and healthier alternatives such as fruit-flavored mineral waters are becoming increasingly popular among the younger generation.
• Limited edition designer drinks: Drinks with unique packaging and flavors (e.g., hoppy fruit sodas) are also trendy, especially if they are associated with influencers.

Changing consumption habits

In some countries, such as Slovakia, young people are already reducing their consumption of traditional sugary soft drinks and opting for dairy products or 100% fruit juices instead. With growing health awareness, more and more people are looking for drinks that are sugar-free or contain natural ingredients.

What are our options for drinking water today?

Those who have clean and healthy drinking water flowing from their taps at home are fortunate. This is about 30% of the population of Europe. The rest usually buy their daily drinking water in plastic bottles, but some filter their tap water, and those who cannot afford to do so drink whatever they have. These solutions pose a number of health risks, such as micro plastics or “PFAS non-degradable compounds” that are not removed by water filters. I have written several blog posts on this topic that is worth reading.

It is possible to use humidity as a source of drinking water with the help of Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) machines. Not only will you have clean and healthy drinking water, but your home will also have healthier, cleaner, and pleasantly cool air. When used in conjunction with solar panels, this technology provides sustainable and environmentally friendly drinking water that is independent of service providers and free of PET bottles.

If you would like to know more about this, visit AWG-Europe and the WizzWell online store!