UK: Global drinks consumption up in 2005 - research

Global drinks consumption rose by 2.5% last year, according to recent figures.

Drinks consultancy Zenith International noted today (31 March) that the total volume consumed in 2005 was 1.47 trillion litres, equivalent to 227 litres per person.

The rise in beverage sales was driven by soft drinks, whose worldwide consumption increased by 3.9% to 499bn litres, equal to 77 litres per person. The advance of soft drinks was led by 'better for you' categories such as bottled water, fruit drinks and functional drinks. This trend is expected to continue, the company forecast, with bottled water set to beat carbonated soft drinks by 2009 and still drinks fast approaching the combined volume of dilutables, nectars and fruit juices.

Meanwhile, more widespread preference for cold beverages, especially iced tea, is slowing down the pace of hot drinks.

Overall growth rates for alcoholic drinks have been fairly steady if modest, Zenith said. Alcohol has faced numerous changes in government taxation as well as a range of emerging new drinking habits. The appearance of pre-mixed spirits, also known as flavoured alcoholic beverages, helped boost the spirits sector for a time, but these have now waned.

While tea is the world's most popular drink at 57 litres per person last year, bottle water is the fastest growing market, recording a 34% gain between 2001 and 2005.