Drinks to Avoid with High Blood Pressure

Energy drinks, alcohol, and sugary drinks are the main drinks to avoid or limit with high blood pressure. Some highly caffeinated and high-sodium drinks also deserve attention, although the right limit depends on the drink and the person.

Choosing what to drink is one part of managing high blood pressure, alongside prescribed treatment and other recommended lifestyle changes. For alternatives, see the best drinks for high blood pressure.

Which 5 drinks should you avoid or limit with high blood pressure?

These drinks differ in how they affect blood pressure. Energy drinks are best avoided, while the others may need to be limited rather than eliminated. Check with your clinician about what is appropriate for you.

1. Energy drinks

Energy drinks often contain large amounts of caffeine and may contain other stimulants. They can raise blood pressure and heart rate, making them a poor choice for someone trying to manage high blood pressure. A sugar-free label does not mean a product is stimulant-free.

Avoid energy drinks rather than relying on a smaller serving to make them safe. Check the labels of beverages marketed for energy, focus, gaming, or workouts: some are sold in cans or bottles that look much like ordinary soft drinks.

A 2025 systematic review of energy drinks and cardiovascular effects found evidence of increases in blood pressure and other cardiovascular effects, although much of the research involved young participants. In a small randomized trial in 18 healthy adults, systolic blood pressure remained higher after an energy drink than after a caffeine-matched control at one measured time point. Those findings do not establish the effect of every energy drink in people with high blood pressure.

2. Alcoholic drinks

Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure. This applies to beer, wine, and spirits: switching between them does not remove alcohol's potential effect on blood pressure.

Avoiding alcohol is an option, and drinking less is generally better for blood pressure than drinking more. For adults who choose to drink, the CDC advises no more than 2 drinks in a day for men or 1 drink in a day for women, on days when alcohol is consumed. These are limits, not targets, and some people need to avoid alcohol entirely.

The size of a glass is not necessarily the same as one standard drink, so consider the serving and alcohol content rather than counting glasses alone. Blood-pressure guidance supports reducing alcohol, but the studies cited on this page do not show how much a particular person's reading will change after cutting back.

If you drink heavily every day, speak with a clinician before abruptly stopping; alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous. Avoid alcohol during pregnancy and when a medication or medical condition makes it unsafe.

3. Sugary soft drinks and sweetened beverages

Regular soda, sweetened iced tea, fruit drinks, and sweetened coffee drinks can add substantial sugar without being particularly filling. Frequent intake can contribute to excess calorie intake and weight gain, which can make high blood pressure harder to manage. Some sugary soft drinks also contain caffeine.

Limit these drinks and check labels for added sugar, especially when a bottle contains more than one serving. A drink described as a fruit beverage is not necessarily low in added sugar; compare the nutrition labels rather than relying on the name on the front.

The case for limiting sugary drinks comes mainly from broader dietary and weight-management guidance. It does not mean that every sugary drink immediately raises blood pressure, or that replacing one will reliably lower an individual's reading. Unsweetened water is a straightforward replacement when you want a drink without added sugar or stimulants.

4. Highly caffeinated coffee, tea, and other drinks

Caffeine can temporarily raise blood pressure, particularly in people who consume it only occasionally or are sensitive to it. Large servings, concentrated coffee, and multiple caffeinated drinks can make it easy to consume more than intended. Caffeine may also appear in some soft drinks and workout beverages.

You do not necessarily need to avoid all coffee or tea because you have high blood pressure. Keep track of your usual intake, avoid large or concentrated servings, and ask your clinician whether you need a personal limit. Consider decaffeinated versions if caffeine appears to affect your readings or your clinician recommends reducing it.

A 2021 review of coffee and arterial hypertension reported that moderate, habitual coffee consumption generally did not appear to worsen blood-pressure control, while occasional consumption could raise blood pressure. Much of that evidence concerns usual coffee habits, not the response to every individual drink. Effects can vary, so a population finding should not override advice based on your own readings.

5. High-sodium vegetable juices and savory drinks

Some vegetable juices, tomato juices, and broths consumed as drinks contain significant sodium. Excess sodium can cause the body to retain fluid and contribute to higher blood pressure. The amount varies considerably between products, so the category alone does not tell you how much sodium is in a serving.

Compare the sodium listed on the nutrition label and choose a lower-sodium version when possible. Check the serving size as well as the number of servings you actually drink. A product labeled low sodium contains no more than 140 mg of sodium per serving under US food-labeling rules.

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day for adults and an ideal limit of 1,500 mg per day for most adults, especially those with high blood pressure. These limits cover sodium from all food and drinks, not just beverages. Evidence and clinical guidance support reducing excess dietary sodium; they do not imply that every glass of vegetable juice will cause a measurable rise in blood pressure.

Do not restrict a prescribed electrolyte or oral rehydration solution without asking the clinician who recommended it. Its purpose may be to replace fluid and salts that your body needs.

How can you limit these drinks day to day?

Start by noticing what you drink regularly and how much is in the container. Compare serving sizes, caffeine, added sugar, and sodium where those details are listed. A beverage can fit more than one category: for example, a sweetened caffeinated soda adds sugar and caffeine, while a sugar-free energy drink can still contain stimulants.

Make a change you can maintain. Replace an energy drink with water, reduce the frequency of sweetened drinks, or choose a lower-sodium version of a savory beverage. If you drink alcohol, discuss a realistic reduction with your clinician, especially if your use is frequent or heavy.

Don't judge the effect of a change from one blood-pressure reading. Readings vary, and your clinician can help you interpret a record taken over time. For a more reliable home measurement, sit quietly for 5 minutes, keep your feet flat and your arm supported at heart level, and avoid caffeine, smoking, and exercise for 30 minutes beforehand.

Who should be careful, and when should you see a doctor?

Discuss your drink choices with a clinician if your high blood pressure is difficult to control, you have kidney or heart disease, or you take medications that affect fluid balance or interact with alcohol. Fluid and sodium needs can differ with some conditions. Do not stop or change prescribed blood-pressure medication because of a drink choice or a single home reading.

If you are pregnant, avoid alcohol and contact your maternity care team promptly about high blood pressure or symptoms such as a severe headache, vision changes, or upper abdominal pain. Children should not consume alcohol or energy drinks; ask a pediatric clinician how to assess a child's blood pressure and caffeine intake.

Seek emergency help immediately if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, new weakness or numbness, trouble speaking, or vision changes, regardless of whether you have checked your blood pressure. In the United States, call 911.

If a reading is higher than 180 mm Hg systolic or higher than 120 mm Hg diastolic and you have symptoms such as these, call 911 without waiting for the pressure to come down. If you have no symptoms, wait at least 1 minute and measure again. If the reading is still that high, contact a healthcare professional immediately for guidance.