Buying soft drinks? All about types, brands & healthy choices

Soft drinks come in surprisingly many varieties. Think of cola, orange, lemon-lime, iced tea, tonic, bitter lemon and flavoured mineral water. You’ll also find light and zero sugar variants, and fizzy or still drinks. There’s something for every moment and taste, from sweet to crisp and mildly bitter.

There are hundreds of soft drink brands, but a few big names appear everywhere. Think of Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Fanta, Sprite, Lipton Ice Tea, Rivella, Schweppes, Royal Club and Sourcy. There are also private labels and premium brands that are becoming increasingly popular, especially in hospitality and the office.

The most popular soft drinks remain classics. Cola is almost always at the top, followed by cola zero, orange soda, lemon-lime, ice tea, flavored mineral water, tonic, bitter lemon, cassis and ginger ale. Which is “the best” mostly depends on taste, but these are the solid favourites for both businesses and consumers.

Soft drinks are rarely truly healthy, but you can make better choices. Sugar-free soft drinks, like light and zero variants, contain fewer calories and are a better alternative to regular soft drinks. Flavored mineral water without added sugars is also a smart choice if you still want something refreshing to drink.

An occasional glass of cola is fine, but drinking several glasses daily is not recommended. Because of the sugar and acids, it’s better to limit it to at most one glass per day, and preferably not every day. If you choose cola zero or light, you avoid sugar, but moderation is still the best policy.

Whether you want to stock an office or simply have your favourite soft drink at home, ordering online is easiest. You get immediate access to all well-known brands and variants, often in bulk packaging at sharp prices.