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  • Page | Last updated: 11 Apr 2025

Food-Based Dietary Guidelines recommendations for water

Health Promotion Knowledge Gateway

Summary of FBDG recommendations for water for the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom

Due care was taken to ensure factually correct information. Food groupings and food group names differ across individual FBDGs; the ones used here are a compromise to present the information in a structured way. Differences such as those in number of portions and portion sizes were kept unaltered. The original country FBDGs and the responsible national public health authorities remain the only qualified points of reference.

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Belgium1 to 1.5 litres of water dailyChoose drinks with no added sugars, water being the first choice-
BulgariaDrink 6 - 8 cups of water (1.5-2 l) - this amount also includes liquids such as tea, etcPrefer tap water and mineral water over soft drinks and fruit juices containing sugar or other sweeteners-
Czechia-Drink at least 1.5 litres of fluids per day. -Prefer water, weakly to moderately mineralized still mineral water, weak tea, fruit teas and juices, preferably unsweetened or diluted.-

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DenmarkDrinking 1-1½ litres of liquids per day is usually sufficient

- Drink water when you are thirsty – with your meals and when you are physically active.

- Water, coffee and tea, as well as milk, juice and other beverages, count towards your liquid intake.

- When you are physically active, or when you sweat a lot, you need to drink more than usual.

- If you drink coffee as an adult, stick to no more than 4 cups a day.

-
GermanyDrink around 1.5 litres every day, preferably water or other calorie-free drinks such as unsweetened tea.

- Make water your beverage of choice. 

- Drinking water from the tap is a fresh, safe and easily available food.

-
Estonia28-35 ml/kg body weight (~1 ml/kcal of food) per day. Healthy adults (excl pregnant women) safe with caffeine up to 400 mg/ d (~5.7 mg/kg body weight).Always prefer water-

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IrelandAt least 8 cups of fluids a dayWater is best200 ml
Greece8-10 glasses of fluids (2-2.5 l) per day; at least 6-8 glasses (1.5-2 l) should be waterDrink plenty of water-
SpainDrink water whenever you are thirsty

- Always drink tap or running water.

- Water is the drink of choice; minimise or avoid the consumption of sugary and sweetened beverages and reduce the consumption of energy drinks.

-

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France-

- The only recommended drink is water (ad libitum).

- Limit the consumption of sugar-sweetened or otherwise sweet-tasting beverages. Their consumption should remain exceptional, and users should limit themselves to one glass a day. In this category, favour fruit juices.

- Low-calorie-sweetened beverages have the advantage of not adding to calorie intake relative to calorically-sweetened drinks. But they also maintain a sweet taste, hence their consumption should be limited.

- Tea, infusions, and coffee without added sugar can contribute to water intake.

-
Croatia1,5 to 2 l water per day (6 – 8 cups)

- Drink water throughout the day, even when you are not thirsty.

- Drink more water during hot weather and when you are physically active.

- Water is the healthiest drink in our diet.

-
Italy1.5-2 litres of water per day (at least 6-8 glasses) even between meals

- Try to anticipate thirst.

- Prefer water.

- Drink slowly, frequently, in small quantities.

- Moderate consumption of drinks with calories and sugars or pharmacologically-active substances (e.g. caffeine).

200 ml
Note: With moderate physical activity, drink enough water to compensate for the losses (sweating)

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Cyprus

- 6-8 glasses (1.5-2 l) a day.

- At high temperatures: 8-12 glasses.

- If you drink coffee, limit to 2-3 cups a day.

- Very important to drink water before feeling thirst.

- Coffee and soft drinks not considered equivalent to water.

- Water may be consumed before, during, and after lunch - it does not affect digestion.

-
LatviaIndividual amount - 30-35 ml of liquid for every kg of body mass or about 2-2.5 L of liquid, with at least half of it as water

- Do not forget to increase the amount of fluid intake in hot weather, as well as during heavy physical activity - exercising, doing physical work. 

- It is best to choose drinking or spring water, low-salt mineral water, unsweetened fruit and herbal teas.

- Sweetened beverages are not recommended.

-
LithuaniaDrink approximately 6-8 glasses or 1.5-2.0 litres of water per day

- It is recommended to drink drinking water, mineralized or weakly mineralized natural mineral water.

- Instead of sweetened, soft drinks, choose plain water.

-

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LuxembourgDrink plenty of water and at least 1.5 litres a dayWater is the staple drink; this includes tap water, spring or mineral water and sparkling water. Alternatives include unsweetened infusions and herbal/fruit teas. Coffee, black and green tea all contain stimulants and should be consumed in moderation. In hot weather, during physical activity or if you are suffering from a high temperature or diarrhoea, you will need to take in more liquid. Swap sugary drinks for water.-
Hungary8 glasses of fluid a day, of which 5 glasses of drinking water

- Drink plenty of water.

- Water is best to quench your thirst.

- Fruit and vegetable juices, tea with sugar, soft drinks, shakes/smoothies, milk drinks (for example cocoa, coffee with milk) can vary your beverage consumption, occasionally, in a small portion.

1 glass = 200-250 ml
Malta1.5-2 l of fluids (6-8 glasses)Drink plain water; you can also have non-sugary herbal infusions and broths (with low fat and salt content) for adequate hydration250 ml

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Netherlands

- 1.5-2 l per day.

- Daily 3 cups of green or black tea.

Drink sufficient water, filtered coffee, and tea without sugarcup: 150 ml, glass: 150 ml, or beaker: 250 ml
Austria

- At least 1.5 l per day.

- Moderate consumption of coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages (3-4 cups per day) is acceptable.

Prefer low-energy beverages such as (mineral) water, unsweetened fruit and herbal teas, diluted fruit and vegetable juice250 ml
PolandAt least 1.5 L water per day.Replace sweetened drinks with water.-

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Portugal1.5 to 3 l water per day (8 cups)

- While water is the best thirst quencher, consider other beverages without added sugar, alcohol or caffeine. Freshly squeezed fruit juices and herbal infusions like lemon.

- Limit caffeinated beverages to no more than 300 mg caffeine daily.

200 ml
Romania2-2.5 l per dayTea and coffee only contain energy if milk, cream, or sugar is added. Excessive consumption can cause insomnia and irritability.-
SloveniaAbout 2 litres of fluids per day

- Enjoy plain or mineral water and unsweetened tea.

- Avoid drinking sweetened drinks, alcoholic beverages or caffeinated drinks to quench your thirst.

-

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Slovakia

- Drink at least 2 l of liquids per day, prefer water and drink with non-added sugar.

- Drink even if you do not feel thirsty.

Prefer water and drinks with no added sugars-
Finland1-1.5 l of liquids every day (5-8 portions) in addition to water from food

- Ordinary tap water is the best thirst quencher.

- Drink coffee and tea without sugar.

- Use sweet or sour drinks only occasionally, and preferably with food.

-
Sweden-

- Water instead of sweet drinks.

- Tap water rather than bottled water.

- Water is the best thirst quencher.

-
Note: Water is by far the best drink for quenching thirst – cut back on fizzy drinks, juice, soft drinks and sports drinks

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United Kingdom

- Drink 6-8 cups/glasses of fluid a day.

- Limit fruit juice and smoothies to max. 150 ml a day.

- Preferably water, low-fat milk, sugar-free drinks including tea and coffee.

- Don’t get thirsty.

-
SwitzerlandDrink 1-2 litres of unsweetened beverages daily, preferably tap water, mineral water, herbal and fruit tea.

- Drink regularly throughout the day: both with meals and in between meals. Preferably water. Drinks containing caffeine such as coffee and black tea can contribute to fluid intake. Moderate consumption (up to 3 cups a day) is recommended.

- Sweet drinks and fruit juice drinks (with added sugar or sweeteners) are not included in the “drinks” group in the food pyramid. They are not suitable thirst quenchers and should only be consumed occasionally, in small quantities.

-
Iceland-

- Drink water most often  it is the best soft drink.

- Drink water when thirsty and with meals because tap water is the best drink.

- Also sparkling water can be a good option instead of soda.

-
Norway-Drink water when you are thirsty, at meals and during physical activity. One to four cups of coffee per day can be included for adults.-