A nutritionist is encouraging Brits to add a warming, caffeine-free drink to their evening wind-down this winter, after research found that 41% of UK adults drink less water in winter than in spring and summer.
Registered nutritionist Sophie Gastman said that adding a hot, caffeine-free drink to a nightly routine could make staying hydrated feel more manageable as temperatures drop. The advice follows a survey of 2,000 UK adults by OnePoll, commissioned by functional hydration brand punchy, which found that almost a third (32%) know staying hydrated is important but struggle to keep on top of it during the colder months.
Evening habits and sleep
While 85% of respondents said they know their evening habits can affect how they sleep and feel the next morning, just 15% said they wake up feeling “refreshed and ready to go.” The survey also found that 81% do not follow a structured night-time routine.
Watching television was the most popular evening activity, reported by 70% of respondents, while almost half (47%) said they scroll on their phones. A further 28% reach for chocolate or sugary snacks, and one in five (20%) said drinking alcohol was part of their evening wind-down. Half of Brits also said they have a hot caffeinated drink within a few hours of going to sleep at least once a week.
Small changes for hydration
Gastman said: “Many of us have a well-established morning routine, but give less thought to how we wind down in the evening. We also know that people tend to drink less during the colder months. As we get older, our sense of thirst can also become less reliable, so we don’t always notice when we need a drink. That makes winter a good time to think about how we can make staying hydrated feel easier.”
She recommended hot electrolytes, explaining how they can “take the comfort of a familiar warm drink and give it a functional twist, offering a different option for anyone looking to add variety to their evening routine.”
New hot electrolyte product
To help people stay hydrated in winter, punchy has launched what it describes as the UK’s first hot electrolyte sachet, designed to bring functional hydration into the familiar evening hot drink ritual. Available in Orange Spice and Blackcurrant, the caffeine-free drink combines six electrolytes and minerals with vitamins and real fruit flavour.
Available online and in Boots from October 26, a seven pack costs £9.99, meaning one serving comes in at around £1.43.
Paddy Cavanagh-Butler, Founder of punchy, said: “We’ve become incredibly good at optimising our mornings - from what we eat and drink to the supplements we take - but the end of the day hasn’t had the same attention. Our research shows there’s a real appetite for better evening rituals, but no clear drink or occasion has quite emerged.”
“That’s where we see an opportunity for punchy with Hot Electrolytes: taking something as familiar as the evening cuppa and giving it a functional upgrade, without losing the comfort and enjoyment that makes the ritual work in the first place.”
Practical guidance
While adding hot electrolytes to an evening routine is not a guarantee of better sleep or more refreshing mornings, it can offer a different way to make hydration part of daily habits. For those who enjoy a warming drink before bed, a caffeine-free option can provide an alternative to tea or coffee.
According to the NHS, most people should aim for six to eight cups or glasses of fluid a day and drink regularly throughout the day, with water, milk, tea and coffee all contributing to daily fluid intake. The NHS also advises swapping sugary drinks for diet, sugar-free or no-added-sugar alternatives, limiting fruit juice and smoothies to one small 150ml glass a day, and drinking caffeine in moderation.
Drinking water is often the best way to stay hydrated, while eating a varied, healthy, balanced diet will provide most people with the electrolytes they need on an average day. For those who enjoy a warming evening drink, hot electrolytes could offer a different way to incorporate hydration without replacing the importance of a balanced diet and drinking enough fluids throughout the day.
