Soft drinks still No. 1 beverage category in U.S.
Bottled water passes beer for No. 2 spot


The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/28/08

Bottled water passed beer in 2007 average U.S. consumption, according to a Beverage Digest report in its most recent issue.

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Carbonated soft-drinks continued to hold the top spot with Americans, who drank on average 49.3 gallons of carbonated soft drinks in 2007, down 3.3 percent from 2006.

Bottled water consumption rose 7.1 percent to 22.5 gallons per capita in 2007 to claim the No. 2 spot. That edged out beer, which rose 1.4 percent in per capita consumption to 22.2 gallons.

Bottled water has been a fast-rising category, almost doubling in per capita consumption in the past 10 years.

"Water is still about 46 percent the size of carbonated soft drinks, but the category growth is far outstripping population growth, so per capita consumption has risen steadily since the early 1990s," Beverage Digest, an industry newsletter, said in the report.



2007 U.S. Liquid Consumption

Per capita consumption in 2007 and percentage change from 2006.

1) Soft drinks: 49.3 gallons, down 3.3 percent

2) Bottled water: 22.5 gallons, up 7.1 percent

3) Beer: 22.2 gallons, up 1.4 percent

4) Milk: 20.1 gallons, down 1 percent

5) Coffee: 16.0 gallons, down 1.2 percent

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Comments

By Cranberry

Apr 28, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this

Drink more beer! We need to catch up!

By atlsitcom

Apr 28, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this

dasani water is just marietta water filtered... i dont know why some people by the bottled water, they think it comes from great lake in the sky... LOL

By Lex Luthor

Apr 28, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this

sexy sagittarius,

You might need to vote on Wed too.

Beer IS a carbonated beverage. How can one claim to hate carbonated bevs and then claim to love beer?

By Jeff

Apr 28, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this

Well, I have to flavor any bottled water I buy or I can't force myself to drink it.

And I flat out admit to being too lazy to flavor ALL my water.

So I just buy the bottled water with the labels of Budweiser or Miller on them! (Some people call that light beer....)

By sexy sagittarius

Apr 28, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this

Beer and bottled water for me! Tap water taste like rusted pipes. I'll pay the extra for some clear good tasting water.

By sexy sagittarius

Apr 28, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this

Bottle water and beer got my vote. There is a difference.

By Lex Luthor

Apr 28, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

Neighbor,

Which is it?
"I hate carbonated drinks"
or
"Water and beer baby....."

BTW, we vote for President on Wednessday this year.

And to all of you bottled water drinkers out there:
Paying you are paying about $20/gal. for something you can scoop out of the ground if you dig deep enough. The only real difference is that most of the companies get the water they bottle from the same place you're trying to avoid if you'd get it if you filled up a glass at your kitchen sink. That's right a city water system.

By Gayle

Apr 28, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

I like my reverse osmosis water filter at home. I never buy bottled water anymore. Change the filter once a year! It's great and saves money.

By parched!

Apr 28, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this

i'm a coffee/water/vodka girl myself.

down with wrighty!

By Neighbor

Apr 28, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

Did you know that 20,000 times a SECOND someone opens a soft drink around the world. Nasty. I hate carbonated drinks.....hate colas/soda/pop, whatever you call it. Water and beer baby.....

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