Per capita soft drink consumption

In 2025, per capita soft drink consumption in the United States is estimated to reach 42.2 gallons, continuing a long-term trend of gradual decline. This ongoing contraction in soft drink consumption is primarily attributed to heightened health consciousness among consumers, who are increasingly aware of the risks associated with sugar-sweetened beverages, such as obesity and diabetes. Public health campaigns and medical organizations have emphasized the health problems associated with high sugar intake, further reducing demand. Despite these shifts, per capita soft drink consumption remains significant, with consumers continuing to prioritize convenience and purchase grab-and-go beverage options including soft drinks.

From 2020 to 2025, per capita soft drink consumption contracted at an annualized rate of 0.5%. Consumer preferences have shifted in response to greater awareness of negative health effects related to both sugar and artificial sweeteners found in diet soft drinks. This trend has reduced demand across the segment, as health advocacy and scientific studies have highlighted health risks tied to high-sugar and alternative sweetener intake. Additionally, there has been a marked increase in the popularity of alternative beverages, particularly carbonated water products such as LaCroix, which offer perceived health benefits and fewer calories relative to traditional soft drinks. This substitution effect has accelerated the decline in soda consumption.

Rising ingredient and input costs have added another layer to the recent decline in soft drink consumption. Volatility in oil prices increases the cost of ethanol—a product for which corn and sugar serve as critical inputs. Given that high-fructose corn syrup is a chief ingredient in many soft drinks, rising demand for ethanol has contributed to an escalation in the price of corn and sugar-based sweeteners, leading to higher retail prices for soft drinks. Elevated prices can limit the purchasing power of lower-income consumers or prompt shifts in spending, suppressing overall consumption.

Across the five years to 2025, macroeconomic factors including evolving consumer health preferences, shifting input costs, and changes in the broader beverage landscape have collectively led to a modest but persistent annualized decline in per capita soft drink consumption, with total consumption falling from 43.2 gallons in 2021 to 42.2 gallons in 2025.