Americans Drink 38 to 44 Gallons of Soda Per Year
According to industry watcher Beverage Digest, soda was the most popular beverage in the United States for more than 20 years, with consumption reaching a peak of 54 gallons annually in 1998. Only 42 gallons of water were consumed annually by Americans at the time. But over time, water gradually surpassed soda to dethrone it from the top spot as soda came under growing scrutiny for contributing to the nation's soaring obesity rates.
In 2021, Coca-Cola generated $38.6 billion in revenue. In 2021, Pepsico generated approximately $79 billion in revenue. Although both businesses offer more than just soft drinks, they are both primarily known for that component of their operations, and it is logical to conclude that a sizeable portion of their revenue came from selling soft drinks. So how much alcohol does the typical individual consume?
The typical American drank 44 gallons of soda annually in 2013. Although there are many sizes available, there are around 10 cans in a gallon, so the average American consumed 440 cans annually.
While still high, that number dropped to 38.87 gallons per person by 2018, thus it does appear to be declining. For what it's worth, this includes all soda, not just sugar-sweetened varieties.
