Comments on: Water: why do people in Malta think that you have to drink something instead of it?

By: H.P. Baxxter

H.P. Baxxter — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 21:00:50 +0000

Kinnie, the national patriotic drink. Inkella x’Maltin inkunu, what?

By: Timon of Athens

Timon of Athens — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 19:31:58 +0000

I can never fathom why the Maltese in general drink sugary soda drinks with their meals.

It just doesn’t go.

By: chico

chico — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 17:29:46 +0000

I know of households where the Sunday lunch table groans mournfully under the weight of bottles of pop.

I have been called a miser at the ikla tax-xoghol because I protested about the ordering of so many soft drinks before we had even got down to “enjoying” the meal.

Could it be something to do with the “if we drink water, then we’re poor…and we’re not, or we pretend we’re not” mentality?

By: Paddy

Paddy — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 08:56:04 +0000

In reply to Marlowe. Technically, most flavoured waters don't have any sugar added. Plenty of artificial additives but no actual calorie-containing ingredients.

By: Angry burd

Angry burd — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 08:19:14 +0000

Why, breast milk of course! It solves obesity problems apparently, ask Chris Fearne.

By: MoBi

MoBi — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 20:50:08 +0000

I find myself drinking surprisingly little water too. I think it’s to do with the climate here. A combination of the weather and humidity. I have travelled a fair bit, and have had a dry mouth, felt thirsty etc. in most places I’ve been to, but hardly ever in Malta.

Just my 2 cents worth.

By: Alexander Ball

Alexander Ball — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 20:42:56 +0000

“But what can you drink?”

Why, Koolaid of course.

By: sm

sm — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 19:22:47 +0000

Historically, before the advent of modern sanitation water was a dangerous substance, especially in urban areas where waste water was usually dumped into the water source.

If they could afford it people used to opt for alcoholic beverages such as wine and beer, a much safer beverage due to the fermentation process and the alcohol content.

By: Marlowe

Marlowe — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 19:18:15 +0000

Even flavoured water still has a substantial amount of sugar. I think most people have so gotten used to chemically enhanced foods they find unadulterated flavours dull.

What’s worse is that there are some loose leaf teas that are relatively inexpensive and have some truly amazing tastes with no sugars or calories and a healthy amount of minerals. The best substitute for water if there ever was such a thing.