Orion wrote:There's a story of some explorers in Australian history that, when they ran out of water crossing one of the deserts, survived by drinking their own and their horses' urine.
Errr I just now am reading "Skeletons on the Zahara" (yes Z) the historical story of an American ship wreck in 1815 on what is now the Moroccan coast. They drank their own urine, washed in it, and drank camels urine. Apparently some mens' urine is sweater than others, camels urine is better than humans. And human urine diluted with water is acceptable. I do not want to find out from practical experience. If you want a description of what it is like to be without water then this is the book for you.
As for coke, alcohol, tea and coffee .. well medically that intake does not count towards water intake. But if you were short of water I'd drink it just for the effect of some liquid.