America’s fading thirst for carbonated soft drinks has positioned bottled water to leap over the long-reigning champ and become the largest beverage category by volume in 2017 and possibly earlier. New research published by the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), in conjunction with Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC), states Americans’ consumption of bottled water increased by 7.9 percent in 2015, and bottled water sales were up 8.9 percent over the previous year.
“Consumer demand for bottled water looks likely to remain strong in the years ahead. Increases in per capita consumption indicate enthusiasm for a product that consumers regard as a healthful alternative to other beverages,” says Michael Bellas, BMC chairman and CEO. “Americans increased their annual consumption by more than 11 gallons, from 25.4 gallons per person in 2005 to 36.5 gallons a decade later. During the same period, per capita consumption of carbonated soft drinks dropped by 12.4 gallons. Per capita consumption of other major beverage categories, like milk and fruit beverages, also fell.”