Teenagers In The UK Are Downing Almost A Bathtub Full Of Sugary Drinks Each Year

Data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey in the UK has revealed that a teenager drinks almost a bathtub full of sugar filled drinks each year.

Sugary drinks or soft drinks refers to any beverage with added sugar like sodas, sports and energy drinks and even fruit punch and lemonades.

The Data

According to the data, teenagers between the ages of 11-18 are drinking approximately 234 cans of sugary drinks each year – an amount which could fill a bathtub. Meanwhile, children between four and ten are having half this amount which children below the age of three have been found to consume almost a third of their teenage counterparts each year.

The amount teenagers are drinking is reportedly three times the recommended limit whole younger children are having twice the maximum recommended limit.

This data comes at a time when the UK government implemented a tax on sugary drinks and reduce sugar in processed food.

The Dangers Of Sugary Drinks

Sugary drinks have been blamed as a major contributor to the obesity epidemic, not just in the UK, but worldwide.

Several studies have demonstrated the dangers of sugary drinks; high consumption makes people more susceptible to two 2 diabetes, to heart disease, osteoporosis (as it can deter bone health) and even gout.

Indeed, as the world become more aware of the dangers of sugary drink, major beverage companies themselves are taking steps to create a healthier image. PepsiCo, for instance just announced that they are purchasing KeVita, a probiotic drink maker. In India, it announced it plans to launch five new healthier products by early 2017.