28-year Trends Research Reveals a Transformation of the Australian Beverage Market and Major Shifts in what Australians Drink
Date: Thursday, 30 April 2026
A landmark 28-year analysis of Australian non-alcoholic drink sales has revealed major shifts in what Australians are choosing to drink, with water and low- and no-sugar carbonated drinks now dominating the beverage aisle.
The research, conducted by FOODiQ Global and published in the peer-reviewed, scientific journal Nutrients, is the longest-running study of its kind globally. It examined non-alcoholic, water-based beverage sales in Australia, from 1997 to 2024, building on three previously published studies. 2,3,4 The paper also provides additional sales data on kombucha, flavoured milk, juice and fruit drinks from 2015 to 2024.
The independent research was commissioned by the Australian Beverages Council and launched at an industry briefing today. Key research findings included:
- Australians are buying fewer sugar-sweetened carbonated drinks and more low- and no-sugar options. In 1997, sugar-sweetened water-based beverages accounted for 70% of the category. By 2024, this figure fell to 35%. In contrast, low- and no-sugar varieties have doubled their market share, from 30% to 65% in the same period.
- Water is driving market growth. Still and sparkling water’s market share has grown from 4.8% to 36%, in the 28-year period. In 2024, still and sparkling water outsold sugar-sweetened carbonated soft drinks (36% vs 23% market share).
- Less sugar in water-based drinks. The sugar content of water-based drinks has halved (down 54%) since 1997, including a 31% reduction in the sugar content of carbonated soft drinks.
Australian Beverages Council Chief Executive Officer Geoff Parker said the world-first data analysis provided an unprecedented and comprehensive view of how Australia’s beverage market had evolved.
“Australians are making different drinks choices today than they were three decades ago and are actively seeking more low- and no-sugar options,” said Mr Parker.
“These long-term trends reflect sustained, proactive action by the industry to expand the range of drinks available to consumers and reduce sugar across beverage portfolios.”
According to the FOODiQ Global researchers: “There has been a consistent movement away from purchases of sugar-sweetened to those of non-sugar-sweetened and unsweetened varieties, a pattern that appears to have accelerated in 2015, in alignment with the initiation of the industry’s Sugar Reduction Pledge”.
The data showed the rate of decline in sugar-sweetened carbonated drink sales increased by 50% between 2015 and 2024, following the introduction of the Sugar Reduction Pledge,1 the industry’s voluntary initiative to reduce sugar across portfolios.
“This research underpins the importance of robust, evidence-based policies. It is clear that industry strategies are supporting consumers to make informed decisions about their drink choice without the need for regressive policies that add to already constrained household budgets and that fail to deliver any demonstrable health benefits,” said Mr Parker.
The 28-year trends research findings reinforced and complemented existing national data, including recent ABS consumption findings, which showed the proportion of Australians consuming sugar-sweetened beverages decreased from 43.2% in 1995 to 20.9% in 2023. 5
The trends research also examined changes across additional beverage categories. Juice consumption declined by 15% between 2015 and 2024. There was a sharper fall in sales of fruit drinks with added sugar, down 27%, compared to sales of 100% juice with no added sugar, down 6%.
Australians bought more flavoured milk, with a 37% sales increase, and kombucha was a growing market segment.
For more information on the 28-Year Trends data visit Australian Beverages Council website.
For media enquiries, please get in touch with lauren@ausbev.org
About the research
The FOODiQ Global study examines 28 years of Australian non-alcoholic, water-based beverage sales, specifically carbonated soft drinks, flavoured waters, plain water, energy drinks, sports drinks, ready-to-drink teas, mixers, and functional beverages. Both sugar-sweetened and low- and no-sugar variants were analysed, alongside additional categories such as juice, flavoured milk and kombucha in more recent years. It builds on a series of previously published studies and represents the most comprehensive long-term analysis of beverage trends globally.
About the Australian Beverages Council
The Australian Beverages Council Limited (ABCL) is the leading peak body representing Australia’s non-alcoholic beverages industry. For over 75 years, the ABCL has been the only dedicated advocate for this industry, representing approximately 95 per cent of the industry’s production volume. Our members range from Australia’s largest drinks manufacturers to small and micro beverages companies whose drinks are enjoyed nationally as well as around the world. These beverages include carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, sports and electrolyte drinks, frozen drinks, bottled and packaged waters, 100 per cent juice and fruit drinks, cordials, iced teas, ready-to-drink coffees, kombuchas, flavoured milk products and flavoured plant milks.
References:
- Starck CS, Cassettari T, Beckett E, Fayet-Moore F. Evolving Sweet Preferences: Temporal Trends in Australian Non-Alcoholic Beverage Sales from 1997 to 2024. Nutrients 2026.
- Levy G., Tapsell L. Shifts in purchasing patterns of non-alcoholic, water-based beverages in Australia, 1997–2006. Nutr. Diet. 2007.
- Levy G.S., Shrapnel W.S. Quenching Australia’s thirst: A trend analysis of water-based beverage sales from 1997 to 2011. Nutr. Diet. 2014.
- Shrapnel W.S., Butcher B.E. Sales of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Australia: A Trend Analysis from 1997 to 2018. Nutrients. 2021.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. “Food and nutrients.” ABS, 2023.