Sugary drinks are the top contributor to sugar consumption in the average Australian’s diet, making up a quarter of sugar intake. A single can of drink can contain 10 teaspoons of sugar – nearly as much as the World Health Organization’s recommended daily limit, of 12 teaspoons per day for an adult – or 6 teaspoons for the best health outcomes.
The high consumption of sugary drinks is harming Australians' health. Strong evidence links sugary drink consumption to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, poor dental health, kidney and liver conditions, mental health conditions and to increased energy intake, long-term weight gain and obesity – which raises the risk for 13 types of cancer.
Sugary drinks refers to non-alcoholic drinks including soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit drinks, sports drinks, iced teas, milk-based drinks and plant-based equivalents which contain added sugar.
Sugary drink companies continue to promise to cut the sugar in their drinks, yet this doesn't go far enough to address the problem. Sugary drinks are still the highest source of sugar in Australians' diets. Big drink companies' most well-known products are still full of sugar, new high-sugar products are still being created, and their marketing continually pushes high-sugar options. There is a long history in Australia of voluntary systems that don’t work. We need governments to hold sugary drink companies to account.
Currently the evidence on non-sugar sweeteners, both as a group and for individual ingredients, is still developing. There is however, strong evidence that sugary drinks are harmful when consumed in high amounts, and strong evidence that taxes on sugary drinks are effective in reducing sugar consumption.