Some Ulama say that soft drinks are halaal because the minute ethanol content evaporates, and some say that the ethanol is not khamr, hence halaal?

Answer

These ‗some ulama' do not know what they are talking. What they say is bunkum disgorged by their nafs. They themselves are addicted to the haraam soft drink poison, hence they speak much twaddle. Even sensible kuffaar understand the harms of these sweet poisons.

is not confined to external acts of ritual worship.