SA mapped out as having big thirst for sweet drinks

THE first map of the world’s nonalcoholic drinking habits places South Africans as above-average consumers of sugar-laden cold drinks.

The map appeared in the journal Plos One and documents sugary beverage, juice and milk consumption.

The world’s biggest guzzlers of sugary drinks, the study found, are in Trinidad and Tobago where on average they drink 591ml of such beverages a day.

South Africans, according to the research, drink 165ml, which is above the global average of 133ml.

But Wits University health specialist Professor Karen Hofman feels this estimate might be low.

That is because South Africans are adding large amounts of sugar to other beverages, like tea and coffee.

“And it is rising as Africa is now the growth market,” Hofman said.

“North America and Europe are more aware of the dangers of sugar.”

These dangers include obesity, tooth decay, and type two diabetes.

The research drew on surveys of hundreds of thousands of people in 187 countries.

When it comes to fruit juice, the big drinkers are New Zealanders, consuming on average a glass a day.

The rich countries drink more than the poor, and South Africa is slightly over the global average, drinking 35ml of fruit juice a day.

“The problem with fruit juices is that they often contain a high percentage of sugar,” Hofman said.

One country that does not have high sugary drink or fruit-juice consumption is China.

But Hofman believes that this is likely to change soon as beverage companies make inroads into the world’s most populous nation.

The region that knocks back the most milk is the Nordic countries, with Iceland and Sweden drinking 354ml a day.

South Africans drink 165ml which is less than neighbours in Botswana who swallow on average 295ml.