For the puposes of hydration only, any Liqiud is water. you don't actually need to drink 64 ounces of water a day, because if you're eating a healthy diet with the proper proportions, most things you eat give your body some water, but a doctor or nutritionist will rarely tell you this because when most people shoot for 64 ounces, they fall short, so it evens out. Also, most people don't eat enough of the moisture rich veggies and fruits. However, that is only a base. If you do things that dehydrate your body, such as excercise, intake excess salt, excess sugar, caffeine, alcohol, or other toxins, or sweat excessively due to environment, etc., you need more. If you keep your sodium and sugar levels very low in EVERTHING else you eat, you can drink things with sodium and sugar. However, most of us just don't eat that way. Even Whole foods fanatics generally take in a fair amount of sugar through fruit, so if you've already met your quotas, the excesses will cancel out the water. Caffeine and Alcohol are much more difficult, because they have a stronger effect. That's why they're used in moderation if at all (or supposed to be, anyway). Sooo, as with all other things in nutrition, it's about balance. If you've done a great job eating healthy all day (and will continue if the day's not over), grab a small glass of juice, soda, or whatever. If not, limit yourself to a few sips & then switch to good ole' H2O. A wedge of your favorite citrus, a couple mint leaves, or a couple slices of cucumber do wonders, just a couple slices though, since the cuc is a diueretic too.