Germany hydration levels fall below recommendations

According to the Hydration Report 2026, 60 percent of Germans drink less than the recommended 1.5 liters of fluid daily. The study, commissioned by the Gesellschaft der Freunde und Förderer der deutschen Mineralbrunnenindustrie e. V., highlights a significant gap between consumer knowledge and daily habits.

Generation Z shows a notable contradiction: while they are highly aware of trends like matcha, adaptogens, and electrolyte drinks, 64 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds still fail to meet daily hydration recommendations. However, this demographic is more likely than Baby Boomers to start their day with mineral water, with 36 percent choosing it first compared to 25 percent of older generations.

The report identifies several causes for chronic under-hydration, including the misinterpretation of bodily signals; nearly one-third of people do not realize that fatigue or hunger can actually be signs of thirst. Additionally, 45 percent of people opt for coffee as their first morning beverage rather than mineral water, and 23 percent of working professionals report structural barriers to drinking water throughout the workday.