Neither is it unthinkable to stop drinking these things entirely, but it is not compulsory. However, it is important to realize that issues with weight gain or weight loss can often be down to what you drink as much as what you eat. You will not be at a healthy weight if you drink a bottle of wine a day, or get through a family-sized bottle of soda.

If you've got to have a drink with food, then a glass of water is often the best choice. There are more explanations to this than just the issue of weight. A glass of water will prevent you from getting hungry and will help you enjoy your meal, but not interfere with your taste. And if you're thirsty, the best thing you can drink is a glass of water – it replenishes the hydration levels of the body and allows you to enjoy more of the occasional glass of wine or soda, because you then savour the taste.