Despite Industry Efforts, Americans Keep Drinking in the Sugar

Americans drank an average of 201.2 calories a day in 2016

Apparently, industries have been trying to limit the amount of sugar intake from beverages for the past four years. Soda making companies set a goal in 2014, responding to the concerns of obesity in America, vowing to decrease the amount of calories consumers intake from soda by 20%. The solution for soda makers is to make customers consume lower calorie drinks by selling less bottled sodas, and more Diet Coke and Diet Dr. Pepper.

In some ways, soda making companies have seen progress, but in other ways it has failed so far. Since this goal was set, the calorie intake from drinks decreased by a VERY small amount in 2015, and actually increased in 2016. Maybe Americans are now drinking less soda, but it is only because they are forced too. Us Americans, however, found our way around this. To satisfy our sweet tooth, we don't drink the alternative diet sodas, but instead, we are drinking more juices and sports drinks, and of course -- more sweet tea and coffee! And if we are dying to have a real soda, we'll just find a local gas station to get our fix from fountain drinks that aren't diet!

Obviously, soda makers are not on the path to achieve their goal by 2025, but they have not given up yet. They are implementing strategies all over the world by suggesting fast food restaurants replace their fountain drink choices with lower-calorie options and testing smaller cup sizes. However, McDonald's presents a challenge in these solutions by recently offering all sizes of a fountain drink for $1 at some of its locations. That is not going make industries and the American Beverage Association give up though. They plan to push through whatever setbacks may present themselves, and plan to reach their goal as close to 2025 as possible.

The American Beverage Association obviously still has a lot of work to do and because they are trying to limit the consumption of some drinks, while attempting to find a way to promote other drinks in a way that will make them seem appealing. They care about their customers health and are really analyzing their target market's tendencies. Industries are stuck in between wanting to satisfy its customers by giving them the sodas they want, and trying limit calorie intake from beverages by having limited options for drinks. In some ways, the soda industry is also working on altering their product. They found that the calories in their drink are far too high, so now they are looking for ways to create a new product that is low in calories but will continue to satisfy their customers wants.



https://www.wsj.com/articles/despite-industry-efforts-americans-keep-drinking-in-the-sugar-1513969238


Kelsie Walker