WE ARE WHAT WE DRINK

But what do we drink ? A recent British Government study tells us in quite a lot of detail.

• In 2008 our average daily liquid consumption was almost exactly 2 litres per person, the amount recommended and similar to 30 years ago.
• Tap water accounted for around 1.3 litres of this, up from about 1.1 litres in 1978, much of it being used in hot drinks.
• In the spring of 2008, tea was the most popular drink with a 33% share, followed by soft drinks on 26% and coffee on 22%. Coffee fell to 14% in the summer, while soft drinks rose to 29%.
• Two thirds or more of tea (77%), fruit juice (74%), coffee (68%) and soft drinks (66%) were consumed at home. Work was the next most important place for many categories. 41% of alcohol was drunk in pubs and bars, compared with 48% at home.
• Our drinks preferences vary markedly at different times of day. Mornings between 07.00 and 11.00 accounted for 44% of coffee, 38% of tea and 39% of fruit juice. Afternoons were responsible for 41% of fizzy drinks. 45% of alcohol and 32% of fizzy drinks were consumed in the early evening. 47% of hot milky drinks and 40% of alcohol were drunk after 21.00.
• Our drinks repertoire is very wide. 86% of us drink tap water, 79% tea, 79% fruit juice, 70% coffee, 70% squash, 63% fizzy drinks, 59% milk, 58% beer/cider, 56% wine and 53% still bottled water.
• 26% of us treat our tap water in some way. 18% use filters, 13% boil it first and 8% use sterilising tablets.

If you’d like to know more, my source was the 2008 National Tap Water Consumption Study prepared for the Drinking Water Inspectorate. The findings were drawn from adults in a sample of 1,000 households across 10 regions of England and Wales.