Spanish children and teenagers may be moving away from the traditional Mediterranean diet, but their drink choices tell a different story. A large study from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UPM) found that water and milk, especially cocoa-flavored milk, are young people’s top choices. Soda and energy drinks rarely make the cut.
The research, published in the Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry, examined the drinking habits of 1,000 students aged 6 to 17 across Spain. Despite heavy marketing of unhealthy products and growing demand for ultra-processed foods, most children still reach for water first. It accounts for 60.4% of all drinks reported, far ahead of the 36 other options named by participants. UNICEF notes that Spain, like other Mediterranean countries, has introduced policies such as taxes on sugary drinks and clearer labeling to help reduce children’s sugar intake.
"In Galicia, energy drinks are already banned for those under 18, reflecting a tightening of local measures in response to concerns about sugary and caffeinated beverages among minors."
El País
Milk is the next most common drink, though most children prefer it with cocoa powder, which adds sugar and calories. The study found that 9.5% of drinks were whole milk with cocoa, compared with 5.3% for plain whole milk. Semi-skimmed milk with cocoa (3%) was also more popular than its unsweetened version (2.6%). Researchers say that although soda is rare, sweetened milk drinks remain a major source of sugar. Studies across Europe, including Spain, have found that family habits and the wider food environment strongly influence what children eat and drink.
Other dairy drinks also make the top ten: milkshakes account for 2.4%, and liquid yogurt for 1.7%. Natural orange juice accounts for 1.5%. Mixed fruit juice makes up 1.55%, while pineapple juice accounts for 1.39%. Together, these ten drinks represent 91% of all beverages reported by Spanish minors.
Eating lunch at school makes little difference to these habits. Children who eat at school show nearly the same pattern, with water (59.3%) and cocoa milk (10%) leading. This group drinks more fermented milk with lactobacillus (1.37%) than orange juice, a small difference between school settings.
"The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) continues to closely monitor the safety of sweeteners and their mixtures in the EU, including aspartame and aspartame-acesulfame, reflecting ongoing regulatory attention to the composition of beverages consumed by children and adolescents."
EFSA
The impressive absence is soda, sports drinks and energy drinks, which barely appear in the basic list. Together, these drinks account for the remaining 10% of less common choices. The study authors say those choices could respond more readily to targeted policies. The findings differ from earlier results, including a 2021 report from the GENUD group at the University of Zaragoza, which found that 40% of children and 50% of teens drank at least 250 ml of sugary drinks daily. The new data suggest that habits are changing, at least in this sample.
The study also points to continuing problems. In vulnerable communities, the Fundación Gasol found that 14.5% of children aged 8 to 12 do not drink water every day, while 19% have sugary drinks daily. Over a week, 91% of these children have sugary drinks, and 17.2% try energy drinks. These patterns are closely linked to higher rates of childhood obesity, especially in families with fewer resources.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends daily water intake of 1.6 liters for ages 4 to 8, 1.9 to 2.1 liters for ages 9 to 13, and up to 2.5 liters for those over 14. The study confirms that Spanish children and teens meet these hydration targets. The authors consider that impressive for immediate health and for building good habits over time.
More than 90% of drinks come from just ten options, pointing to a stable set of hydration habits. That concentration could make it easier to design education campaigns, especially in schools, where access to good information and healthy choices can shape habits early. The authors say helping children make daily decisions about what to drink matters as much as setting general guidelines.
Earlier studies have shown that policies such as raising taxes on sugary drinks or banning them from schools can change what children drink. But the current data suggest Spanish youth are already making healthier choices than many expect. The basic challenge now is reaching vulnerable groups and extending these positive trends to all children, whatever their background.
