Americans drank more bottled water than soda in 2016
[BENGALURU] It's official: Americans are now drinking more bottled water than soda.
After decades-long streak of strong growth, bottled water surpassed carbonated soft drinks to become the largest beverage category by volume in the United States in 2016, according to research and consulting firm Beverage Marketing Corp.
The shift comes amid widespread concerns about the health effects of sugary beverages.
Several US cities voted for soda tax in November, in a bid to battle diet-related diseases, including obesity and diabetes.
Bottled-water consumption in the United States reached 39.3 gallons per capita last year, while carbonated soft drinks slipped to 38.5 gallons, Beverage Marketing Corp said.
In contrast, per capita soda consumption regularly exceeded 50 gallons in the late 1990s and early 2000s, according to the report.
Total bottled water volume rose about 9 per cent to 12.8 billion gallons in 2016, compared with a year earlier.
"When Perrier first entered the country in the 1970s, few would have predicted the heights to which bottled water would eventually climb," said Michael Bellas, chairman and chief executive, Beverage Marketing Corp.
REUTERS
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Consumer & Healthcare
Cordlife’s independent auditor to retire after issuing disclaimer of opinion on FY2023 financials
Cutting the cord?: Events leading up to Cordlife’s MOH suspension and arrests of its directors, ex-group CEO
Cordlife customers push for legal action
France's Casino supermarket chain to axe up to 3,200 jobs
Prada outshines rivals with 16% revenue lift boosted by Miu Miu
Toymaker Hasbro posts quarterly profit beat, slower sales decline