More men than women drinking sugar sweetened drinks

Released
12/12/2018

Men are more likely than women to drink both sugar sweetened drinks (such as soft drink) and diet drinks (such as diet cola) and are more likely to consume them in greater amounts.

New data released today from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) National Health Survey 2017-18, shows that men were twice as likely as women to consume sugar sweetened drinks daily (12 per cent of men compared with 6 per cent of women). They were also more likely to consume diet drinks daily (6 per cent compared with 4 per cent).

ABS Director of Health Statistics, Louise Gates, said 44 per cent of men and 28 per cent of women usually consume sugar sweetened drinks at least once per week. Men were also more likely than women to consume diet drinks at least once per week (20 per cent compared with 16 per cent).

“On average, men who are daily consumers drink 3.3 cups of sugar sweetened drinks which is equivalent to 825ml or 2.2 cans of soft drink, approximately 19 teaspoons of sugar or 1401 kJ. The equivalent for women who were daily consumers was 2.5 cups which is equivalent to 625ml, 1.7 cans of soft drink or approximately 14 teaspoons of sugar or 1061 kJ," Ms Gates said.

Younger people were more likely to consume sugar sweetened drinks with 61 per cent of 18-24 year olds consuming at least once per week and 14 per cent consuming daily. Of those aged 65 and over, 19 per cent consume sugar sweetened drinks at least once per week and 6 per cent consume daily.

Rates of consumption were highest in the Northern Territory where 12 per cent consume sugar sweetened drinks daily compared with 6.5 per cent in the Australian Capital Territory.

Further details are in National Health Survey: First Results, 2017-18 (cat. no. 4364.0.55.001) from the ABS website http://www.abs.gov.au.

Media notes

  • When reporting ABS data, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.
  • For media requests and interviews, contact the ABS Media Team on media@abs.gov.au or 1300 175 070 (8.30am - 5pm Mon-Fri).
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  • Sugar sweetened drinks includes soft drink, cordials, sports drinks or caffeinated energy drinks. May include soft drinks in ready to drink alcoholic beverages. This definition excludes fruit juice, flavoured milk, 'sugar free' drinks, or coffee/hot tea. Sugar sweetened drinks were reported based on usual consumption per day/week.
  • Diet drinks are drinks that have artificial sweeteners added to them rather than sugar and includes diet soft drink, cordials, sports drinks or caffeinated energy drinks. These may also include diet soft drinks in ready to drink alcoholic beverages. This definition excludes non-diet drinks, fruit juice, flavoured milk, water or flavoured water, or coffee/tea flavoured with sugar replacements for example 'Equal'. Diet drinks were reported based on usual consumption per day/week.
  • The survey was conducted in all States and Territories and across urban, rural and remote areas of Australia (excluding very remote areas) from July 2017 to June 2018. The survey included around 21,000 people in over 16,000 private dwellings.
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