Young people aged 12 to 16 are unsure which drinks are healthy and which are not. They see water as the healthiest choice and regard energy drinks and soft drinks as unhealthy. However, there is considerable confusion about tap water, fruit juice and drinks containing artificial sweeteners, such as diet soft drinks.
This confusion is mainly caused by online influencers, marketing and rumors on platforms such as TikTok. This emerges from research by health scientists Rian Pepping, Vincent Busch, Juliette Lukowski, Arnoud Verhoeff, Jaap Seidell and Barbara Groot-Sluijsmans of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and GGD Amsterdam, published in Appetite.
The study, conducted among sixty vmbo students, shows that while young people have knowledge about the harmful effects of sugar, misinformation and conflicting health advice make it difficult to choose healthy beverages. For example, some doubt the safety of tap water and beverages containing artificial sweeteners. However, fruit juices are often perceived as healthy, partly due to claims on packaging and varying health advice.
These findings are consistent with previous substudies, which also examined the influence of social norms, environment and marketing on young people's drinking choices. This study emphasizes that clear and reliable information from scientists, government and health organizations is needed to help young people make healthier choices. The researchers also call for stricter rules around marketing and countering online disinformation.
About the study
The study is part of Rian Pepping's doctoral research into young people's lived experiences and lifestyles around (un)healthy drinks, focusing on the factors that influence their choices, and was conducted between April and June 2025 by VU Amsterdam and GGD Amsterdam, with funding from the Diabetes Fund. The Nutrition Center and Waternet were involved as consultants in the study.
The study shows that attention is needed to the role of misinformation, disinformation and marketing of unhealthy foods, including possible measures such as stricter regulation or restrictions on child marketing for unhealthy foods up to 18 years of age.
