Brighton mum says son, 9, hasn't drunk water in five years

Kelly Mulligan, 53, from Brighton, said her son Max has refused plain water since he was four, arguing that it has "no flavour."

Ms Mulligan, who runs a cleaning business, said: "Max has never liked plain water, he says there's no flavour. I agree – I don't drink plain water either. I can only drink carbonated water or tea.

"Max will take little sips of water if he needs to, but he's always thirsty and says plain water doesn't quench his thirst."

Instead, Max prefers apple juice, which his mum dilutes to reduce his sugar intake.

She said: "He loves fresh apple juice, but to make sure he's not having too much natural sugar, I water it down. He's fine with that, and it helps me to know that he is having some form of water.

"He also has a low sugar squash to add variety. It's been five years since Max has drunk a plain glass of water."

Ms Mulligan said her son does take water to school, but she's unsure how much he actually drinks.

She said: "Max has to take a bottle of water to school because they don't allow anything [else], but how much he actually drinks of that, I'm not sure. He's healthy and happy, so I have no concerns.

"He has a varied diet and keeps active. It isn't like he's drinking no liquids at all. The diluted apple juice is a middle ground which helps keep my concerns for his teeth at bay."

Ms Mulligan said she understands that some people enjoy plain water, but it's simply not for her or her son.

Her comments come as a new nationwide study reveals more than 2.5 million people in the UK can’t remember the last time they drank a plain glass of water.

The study, commissioned by hydration brand Más+ by Messi, found that just 17 per cent of adults consume the NHS-recommended eight glasses a day.

Max's 9th birthday. (Image: Taylor Herring) Leo Messi, co-founder of Más+ by Messi, said: "As an athlete, I know the importance of hydration for peak performance. Más+ by Messi is designed to help people not just stay hydrated but also feel their best. With electrolytes and natural ingredients, it's a great way to support a healthy and active lifestyle for everyone in the UK."

The research also revealed that 43 per cent of adults find water "boring," while nine per cent said they dislike the taste.

Among teenagers, 34 per cent said they preferred other drinks to water, and 26 per cent said they "forget" to drink it.

Sophie Van Ettinger, global vice president at Más+ by Messi, said: "It’s alarming the number of people who are not aware they are dehydrated daily and will often go through days experiencing a lack of energy or headaches, not realising a simple glass of water or even a hydration drink, like Más+ by Messi, is the solution."