If you have pulled a vitamin water off your shelf only to realize that the expiration date has passed, you may be wondering if you can still drink it. While water itself does not go bad, drinking vitamin water after it has expired can have negative effects. You are not likely to get sick from drinking expired vitamin water, but the quality and taste of your beverage will decrease as you go longer past its expiration date. Vitamin Water A bottle of vitamin water differs from traditional bottled water because it has added ingredients. Vitamin water contains added sugar and vitamins, such as potassium and B vitamins. The health claim behind vitamin water is that it can help to boost your intake of certain nutrients to help revive you, provide additional energy or help to reduce your stress level. Industry standard for bottled water expiration differs from country to country regarding shelf life, including for vitamin water. Decreased Quality While you are unlikely to get sick from drinking expired vitamin water, the quality of the product may degrade over time. The vitamin water is safe to drink, but the taste and appearance of the water may change. The Food and Drug Administration of America notes that the odor of your bottled water may also change. If you drink a bottle of expired vitamin water, your beverage may not taste, smell or look as good as a bottle that is not expired. Toxins If you store your vitamin water improperly, the plastic the bottle is made out of may degrade, causing certain toxins and chemicals to leach into your water. Over time, certain plastics may lose some of their strength, making them more permeable to environmental substances, including chemicals and gases. Your vitamin water may also become contaminated with chemicals from the plastic bottle itself. If your bottle of vitamin water is expired, your beverage is also likely to take on an unpleasant plastic taste. Recommendations The best way to maintain the highest quality of vitamin water possible is to store your unopened bottles in a cool and dark place. Cool temperatures and a dark environment help maintain the taste and appearance of your water, but may also help to prevent potential plastic degradation that can contaminate your beverage. It may be better to err on the side of caution and replace any expired vitamin water with new bottles.