Yes. Sweetened, highly processed, and alcoholic drinks are universally categorized as junk food because they are energy-dense but lack essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Common drink categories categorized as junk food include:
- Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: Soft drinks, energy drinks, sweetened cordials, and fruit juices with added sugar.
- 3-in-1 and Powdered Mixes: Instant coffee, tea, and chocolate mixes that are heavily packed with sugar and creamers.
- Alcoholic Beverages: Beer, cider, spirits, and sugary mixed cocktails, which act as “empty calories”.
Because these beverages contain high levels of added sugar and calories with almost zero nutritional value, health experts strongly recommend limiting them or avoiding them. Even local authorities, such as the Malaysian Ministry of Education, have specifically banned these types of sugary and carbonated beverages from school premises to help combat childhood obesity.