Evolving Sweet Preferences: Temporal Trends in Australian Non-Alcoholic Beverage Sales from 1997 to 2024
Evolving Sweet Preferences: Temporal Trends in Australian Non-Alcoholic Beverage Sales from 1997 to 2024 is independent research conducted by FOODiQ Global and published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nutrients. The study analysed sales data for non-alcoholic, water-based beverages in Australia, highlighting key trends across drink categories over nearly three decades.
The findings show Australians are buying fewer sugar-sweetened carbonated drinks and increasingly choosing low- and no-sugar options. In 1997, sugar-sweetened beverages accounted for 70 per cent of the category; by 2024, this had declined to 35 per cent. Over the same period, low- and no-sugar varieties doubled their share, rising from 30 per cent to 65 per cent.
The research was commissioned by the Australian Beverages Council Limited (ABCL) to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based view of how beverage preferences have evolved over time.