Help Kicking the Pop/soda habit?

Hey Matt - my best friend has had bouts with kidney stones 3 times. I told him to drink more beer. He informed me that the pain is so excrutiating before it gets to your peter that by the time it gets there, you've had enough painkillers that you don't care. But still!
I won't describe the procedure he went through the last time to break up the stones. AARghhhh! I drink lots of water now!