The Death of Soda

By Ian Ross

If you've walked down the beverage aisle of your local supermarket recently, you may have noticed that big changes are afoot. Shelves once dominated by familiar sodas are now home to flavored waters, sparkling fruit juices and fortified energy drinks. A question that used to be as simple as "Coke or Pepsi?" seems to have gotten a whole lot more complicated. Earlier this month, reports from CNN, National Public Radio, and the New York Times commented on declining soda sales. A report from Beverage Digest, an industry trade publication, showed that for the first time in 20 years, the amount of soda sold in the United States has declined. This is causing many to ask the question...Is this the death of soda?

It's hard to say whether or not soda is dying, but alternatives to soda are alive and kicking. There are many reasons why people are now reaching for a healthier option when choosing something to quench their thirst.

1. We're concerned with sugar: Sodas contain high amounts of sugar, and according to a recent Wellness Interactive poll, 68% of us are consciously trying to avoid sugar in our diet. Sugar has been linked to obesity, depression, ADHD, hyperactivity, and type II diabetes. Of course we could always drink diet soda, but...
2. We're concerned with overall health: Even without sugar concerns, people today are worrying more about diet sweeteners, artificial flavors and colors, and other artificial ingredients that are found in traditional sodas. There is also the underlying feeling that spending a lifetime ingesting artificial things just can't be good for one's long term health.
3. We desire water: Over 30% of Wellness Interactive subscribers drink bottled water as part of their health and wellness lifestyle. If you're truly thirsty, nothing beats water, and with more and more of us working towards living a healthier life, water is a better fit for exercising, hiking, biking, etc...The popularity of bottled water makes it easy and portable, and drinking water just feels right.
4. We desire more interesting flavors:With so many beverage choices available today, a person is bound to experiment. Bored with cola? Try sparkling blueberry juice. Need a thirst-quenching pick-me-up? Maybe fitness water will do the trick. There have never been as many beverage choices available to us as there are today, and while some of them may not be any healthier than traditional sodas, they're certainly a lot more fun.
5. We're watching our weight: Sodas are a great example of products that contain "empty calories." Empty calories are those foods or beverages that are high in calories but contain little to no nutritional value. Eating or drinking empty calories often makes you want to eat or drink more, and with many of us concerned with weight management and obesity, empty calories are calories best avoided.

So should we expect a soda free world in the future? Don't bet on it. For many people, soda will always be the preferred choice for a specific occasion. At fast food restaurants, sporting events, parties and movies, the question may still be a simple, "Coke or Pepsi?" But on other occasions and for day-to-day beverage choices, the soda alternatives appear almost endless. Many healthier options exist...so are you thirsty yet?