• Under European law a soft drink is defined as "a non-alcoholic water based flavoured drink".
• Within the industry the following description for carbonated drinks has developed: "a manufactured drink, optionally sweetened, acidulated, carbonated and which may contain fruit, fruit juice and salts; the flavour may derive from vegetable extracts or flavourings."
• Carbonated bottled waters are not soft drinks and are governed by separate legislation, as these are unsweetened.

• Carbonated drinks are made from:

• water (about 86%).
• a sweetening agent.
• an acid.
• a flavouring.
• carbon dioxide.

• and may also contain

• fruit or fruit juice.
• colouring.
• Preservatives are unlikely to be used as the presence of the carbon dioxide helps to inhibit the growth of mould and yeasts which preservatives aim to protect against.

.

3.1 Types

• Carbonated drinks can be separated into the following groups:

• Regular - carbonated drinks made using sugar.
• Low calorie - carbonated drinks made using low calorie sweeteners as their main sweetening agent. They must contain not more than 10 kcal per 100 ml.
• Clear - carbonated drinks which are clear in appearance (sometimes referred to as flavoured waters).
• Mixers - carbonated drinks which are for use with alcoholic drinks i.e. as mixers.

Energy drinks

• These drinks, which are often carbonated, aim to replenish the bodyÕs energy levels.
• The sugars that are used in energy drinks are complex carbohydrates which are a blend of slow, medium and fast acting sugars to enable a fairly continuous source of energy to be produced.

3.2 Flavours

• The most popular flavours of carbonated drinks are: cola, lemon and orange.
• Regionally, some flavours are more popular than others, particularly where a traditional soft drink has previously dominated the market e.g. Scotland and 'Irn- Bru', the Northwest and 'Vimto'.