IMAS Study: Austrians Drink 2.1 Liters Daily — a Quarter Consider That Too Little

For the study, 1,021 people aged 16 and over were interviewed in person. According to IMAS, the sample is statistically representative of the Austrian population. Both the quantities consumed and drinking habits throughout the day were recorded.

Self-Assessment and Actual Consumption

The discrepancy in self-assessment is striking: 72 percent of respondents are convinced they drink enough. A quarter of the population, however, openly admits to not consuming enough fluid. This means a clear majority rate themselves positively — even though average consumption remains below the ideal amount.

The study also shows clear routines: Almost half of respondents drink in the classic way with meals, while 42 percent reach for their first glass of water right after getting up. The two most common moments are thus closely tied to fixed everyday situations, independent of the actual sensation of thirst.

Main Motives for Beverage Choice

When asked about their motives for choosing beverages, respondents cited refreshment first (68 percent rated this as "very important"), followed by the desire to quench thirst (66 percent) and a natural taste (57 percent). Health-related aspects, by contrast, played a minor role in the spontaneous response tendency.

High Acceptance of Tap Water

The high acceptance of tap water is also noteworthy: 70 percent of the population say they drink tap water several times a day. This points to a strong foundation of trust in the domestic drinking water supply and sets Austria apart from many other markets where packaged water dominates.

Overall, the study paints a picture of a population that predominantly perceives its fluid intake as sufficient, while at the same time remaining on average below its own stated target amount. The results raise the question of the extent to which thirst or external habits steer everyday life more than conscious health goals.