[Omkar]

Let’s talk about drinking and driving. By this, I mean the "safe" drinks that you might like to have while driving. We all love travelling and being behind the wheel is the usual place for enthusiasts like us. People prefer different types of beverages when on drives according to what works best for them. A friend of mine is very much dependent on drinks like Red Bull or Monster Energy while driving. I also know that you will never find GTO without his coffee mug on any morning drive. So, what's your go-to beverage when on drives?


- Tea is the most popular drink among Indians. We’re used to starting our day with a cup of chai and you’ll find plenty of places on the highways that serve decent tea. It’s a great way to keep you refreshed on long drives.


- Coffee is preferred by a lot of people be it black or the usual cappuccino. Especially on your morning drives, a hot cup of coffee will give you a good start. If in a hurry, you can always carry it in your favourite coffee mug (Related thread)!

- Energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster Energy are good for the night if you want to counteract sleepiness on long drives. These drinks are high on caffeine which will help you stay awake. However, they shouldn’t be the only thing to rely upon as too much of these is unhealthy. Also, if you are fatigued, it’s always advisable to stop and catch up on sleep and then get back to driving.


- Water is something a lot of people prefer to keep themselves hydrated. Adding some electrolytes to the water is also helpful to keep your energy levels up on long drives.

- Aerated drinks are also pretty commonly preferred on drives thanks to the caffeine content and easy availability.

- Juices and smoothies are also preferred by a lot of people as the feel refreshing. Especially in hot weather, something cool and sweet helps you avoid fatigue.


As for me, I am not that particular about any specific beverage, but I like to keep myself hydrated now and then with whatever’s available. Water works best for me and on long drives, I end up carrying a bottle of Coca-Cola or Thums Up for sipping from time to time. I prefer cold beverages over hot when on the road. If I want to have something hot, I’d rather take a break and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while I get my stretching done and enjoy the random views. The only exception I would make and go for a hot black coffee in the morning would be if I am not driving, which is rare.

Do share your preferred beverages when on the open road.

[GTO]

Source

Black coffee, and that too from McDonalds. Love the taste and their drive-throughs make it damn convenient. But the coffee from McDonalds is always the 2nd coffee picked up en route. The first black coffee is from home. Have set up a nice collection of brews, thanks to advice on the Team-BHP Coffee Thread (A Yetiguide® to Coffee). In fact, out of the dozen or so coffee blends at home, one is lovingly call "Omkar" because you got it for me from your friend's plantation:


Of course, nothing quite like a "kadak chai" (strong tea) from a dhaba. That is a must-have on road-trips.

My cars always have two bottles of mineral water. Am quite a water baby. No juices, smoothies or shakes while driving. It's pretty much just coffee & water.

[twisted.arrow]

My car always has a couple of freshly filled water bottles and at least 2 cans of red bull (the armrest storage in the creta was perfect for this). That said, the red bull is an SOS only option, when there are few kms to be covered and breaking for a nap is not an option. The most resorted-to option is a tea break from a non-mall dhaba, or the jain shikanjis now available on every major road radiating from delhi ncr.

I have tried the takeaway coffee/tea options a couple of times, but just can't find it comfortable to drive while sipping a hot beverage. If I am with a group, where everyone is getting something (mcdonalds drive-through, kalamboli ftw), I usually get a cold coffee. Hate the paper straw getting soggy really fast though.

[am1m]

It's because of driving/riding, especially long bike rides on the highway that I don't drink coffee/tea on a regular basis/everyday. So that on the occasional times I do need to refresh/perk up/stay alert-awake, a single glass is more than enough!

[Jeroen]

For me it’s coffee, usually cappuccino or sometimes something more exotic from a Starbucks. Here in the Netherlands every petrol station will serve decent coffee and a number of Shell stations have a Starbucks too.

On long open drives in my Alfa Spider I will also bring several bottles of water. Driving top down in the sun, gets you dehydrated.

These days I carry my own coffee mug with me. You get charged extra these days for all disposable things. Apart from the cost, which is tiny, it makes sense to bring your own mug.

Jeroen

[PatienceWins]

I prefer coffee on highways, if available from a good place like Coffee day. Otherwise, I go for tea from a crowded roadside tea stall. I usually have them early morning or evening/ night when I feel sleepy/ tired.

Water is my regular drink and mostly have at least two 1 liter bottles on doors.

[Small Bot]

It's Water, followed by Black Coffee for me.

As to what I carry, it's only water (at least 4 litres) and some glucose. I just keep four full water bottles, one in each door.

Black Coffee in a thermos flask is only for long rides, if I need to drive through the night, etc (which is kind of rarer).

[rajeevsulu]

It is coffee for me before I start the drive or ride. Normal filter coffee with half sugar. I have one coffee after about 3 hours of driving. Funnily I don't drink water when I drive, I drink a lot of water when I ride though.

I prefer roadside coffee shops for I like to observe people and their banter wakes me up and also keeps me occupied.
Cheers

[reignofchaos]

Water, fizzy diet drinks and red bull. Long drives are the only times I drink the latter two.

Coffee or tea makes me feel sick on drives - not sure why though. Hence I do not have it.

[dailydriver]

Water, water and water.

It keeps me awake, alert and fresh; is available in plenty and is easy to ingest. Besides, it pressurizes me to take a guaranteed break at regular intervals (what goes in must come out ) while also aiding digestion and healthy bowel movement even after being conjoined to my seat for long.

Apart from the two bottles that remain at my arm's length at all times, there is a minimum of five more litres in the boot.

[Eddy]

All of us in the family carry our own water bottles in the car, no matter the duration of the ride. Sipping water while driving has become a habit now. I get quite irritated if I forget my bottle

[AYP]

More often than not, I do not sip on any beverage while driving. On the rare occasion when I feel like it, a Frappe or Frappuccino is my ideal choice of beverage followed by Coke/Pepsi. I prefer cold beverages during a drive over something hot. Unlike most of the adults, I do not consume tea or coffee on a daily basis so I guess that also plays a role in my preference of beverage or the lack of it.

I do carry a bottle of water with me though at all times.

[vb-saan]

Its coffee and water (preferably sparkling). And coffee needs to be black; I find it hard to drink a flat white, cappuccino when its just lukewarm, no such issues with black. And Red Bull, other sweetened aerated drinks are a strict no for me.

[saisree]

Nothing comes near to a cup of coffee. *DOT*

[Dr.AD]

I drink lot of water while driving, and only water!

I am paranoid about liquid spills inside the car, and never allow anyone to carry any food or drinks in my cars. My wife (my usual co-driver) is well used to this and she also has similar habits. Both of us carry water bottles in the car in our long drives, and we sip water. And she also hates carrying any other liquid inside the car.

In fact, I find the cup holders in my car totally useless (because we never carry any cups in the car), but I find the water bottle holders in the doorpad to be extremely useful. Those are always stocked with fresh water bottles before each of my drive. My BMW takes 4 water bottles in total (one in each door pad), and Thar takes 2 water bottles (again, one in each of the two front door pads). My pre-trip routine includes purchasing water bottles from the supermarket next to my place and stocking the car with these water bottles, before every single drive!

P.S. I love coffee and tea, and I drink plenty of coffee and tea in my road trips. But that is always when we stop at coffee or tea shops on the way. Never in the car. Inside the car, only water for me!