This opinion, published as a complement to the report Recommendations for the Development of the 5th National Nutrition and Health Programme (PNNS 5) released in July 2025, sets out the recommendations of the French High Council for Public Health regarding beverage consumption. It adopts an approach that integrates both public health and environmental sustainability considerations.

The opinion reiterates the central role of water as the reference beverage and highlights the need to ensure equitable access to safe drinking water across the entire territory, while encouraging the consumption of tap water. It underlines the links between access to water, social inequalities and consumption choices. It also stresses the importance of reducing alcohol consumption, in light of its health, social and environmental impacts, and addresses emerging issues related to low- and no-alcohol beverages. With regard to sugar-sweetened beverages, the opinion refers to the analyses developed in the PNNS 5 report.

The recommendations set out general consumption guidelines aimed at promoting choices that are beneficial to both health and the environment. They do not seek to provide an exhaustive analysis of the specific toxicological issues relating to different types of drinking water, nor of the clinical aspects of alcohol dependence, which are addressed through dedicated policy frameworks and programmes.