I don't understand how people can drink those nasty, chemically-tasting diet drinks.
Scientifically, the artificial sweeteners in those products are completely safe unless you drink 80 liters of soda per day. But how big of a risk to your health it is would depend on how much you consume. "Studies" claim that most people don't consume enough per day for it to cause any long-term health problems. (aside from obesity of course)
Like any logical person, I'd rather have the real thing less often than drink shit more often.