Nonalcoholic Beverage Consumption Among Youth and Adults: United States, August 2021—August 2023

NCHS Data Brief No. 568, September 2026

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Nicholas Ansai, M.P.H., Catharine A. Couch, Ph.D., R.D., and Ann Goding Sauer, M.S.P.H.

Introduction

Beverages are a significant source of calories and essential nutrients and are vital for meeting water intake needs (1,2). The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommend water and unsweetened beverages as primary drink choices (3). DGA also recommends consuming 100% fruit juice in limited portions and avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages. This report updates previous reports (4,5) on the contribution of beverage types (in grams) to total nonalcoholic beverage consumption for U.S. youth ages 2-19 and adults age 20 and older during August 2021-August 2023. Trends in the contribution of beverage types to total nonalcoholic beverage intake over the past decade are also presented.

Youth compared with adults

• In August 2021-August 2023, water accounted for the largest percentage of total nonalcoholic beverage consumption among youth (57.2%) followed by milk (16.1%), sweetened beverages (15.3%), 100% fruit juice (5.5%), coffee and tea (3.9%), and diet beverages (2.0%) (Figure 1, Table 1).
• Among adults, water was also the top contributor to total nonalcoholic beverage consumption (57.3%), followed by coffee and tea (20.1%), sweetened beverages (11.2%), diet beverages (4.8%), milk (4.6%), and 100% fruit juice (2.0%).
• Contributions from water were similar between youth and adults.
• Contributions from milk, 100% fruit juice, and sweetened beverages were higher among youth compared with adults, while contributions from coffee and tea and diet beverages were lower.

Youth by age group

• Contributions from water to total nonalcoholic beverage consumption increased with age, from 51.1% among ages 2-5, to 54.6% among ages 6-11, and 61.7% among ages 12-19 (Figure 2, Table 2).
• Coffee and tea consumption also increased with age, from 1.9% among ages 2-5 to 2.9% among ages 6-11 and 5.6% among ages 12-19. Likewise, sweetened beverage consumption increased with age (from 11.3% to 15.8% and 16.6%) as did diet beverage consumption (from 1.0% to 1.5% and 2.7%).
• Milk consumption decreased with age, from 26.1% among ages 2-5 to 18.2% among ages 6-11 and 10.5% among ages 12-19. Consumption of 100% fruit juice also decreased (from 8.6% to 7.1% and 3.0%).

Adults by age group

• Contributions from water to total nonalcoholic beverage consumption decreased with age among adults, from 64.9% for ages 20-39 to 55.9% for ages 40-59 and 50.2% for age 60 and older (Figure 3, Table 3). Contributions from sweetened beverages also decreased with age, from 12.9% to 11.7% and 8.6%.
• Coffee and tea consumption as a percentage of total nonalcoholic beverage consumption increased with age, from 13.2% for ages 20-39 to 21.2% for ages 40-59 and 26.8% for age 60 and older.
• Milk consumption as a percentage of total nonalcoholic beverage consumption was lower among adults ages 20-39 and 40-59 (3.9% each) compared with adults age 60 and older (6.1%).
• The contribution of 100% fruit juice to total nonalcoholic beverage consumption was lower among adults ages 40-59 (1.6%) compared with adults age 60 and older (2.5%).
• The contribution of diet beverages to total nonalcoholic beverage consumption was lower among adults ages 20-39 (3.1%) compared with adults ages 40-59 (5.7%) and 60 and older (5.9%).

Youth trends

• Between 2013-2014 and August 2021-August 2023, the contribution of water to total nonalcoholic beverage consumption for youth increased from 42.4% to 57.2% (Figure 4, Table 4).
• Over the same period, decreases were seen in the contributions from milk (from 21.7% to 16.1%), 100% fruit juice (7.2% to 5.5%), and sweetened beverages (22.0% to 15.3%) to total nonalcoholic beverage consumption.
• The contribution from diet beverages decreased from 2.0% during 2013-2014 to 1.4% during 2017-March 2020 and then increased to 2.0% during August 2021-August 2023.
• No significant trend was observed for contributions from coffee and tea.

Adult trends

• Between 2013-2014 and August 2021-August 2023, the contribution of water to total nonalcoholic beverage consumption for adults increased from 46.9% to 57.3% (Figure 5, Table 5).
• Over the same period, decreases were seen in the contributions from milk (from 6.1% to 4.6%), 100% fruit juice (3.1% to 2.0%), and sweetened beverages (14.9% to 11.2%).
• The contribution from diet beverages decreased from 5.5% during 2013-2014 to 4.0% during 2017-March 2020 and then increased to 4.8% in August 2021-August 2023.
• No significant trend was observed for contributions from coffee and tea.

Summary

During August 2021-August 2023, water was the top contributor to total nonalcoholic beverage consumption, accounting for around 57% of beverage consumption for both youth and adults on a given day. According to prior research, water accounted for 43.7% of youth total nonalcoholic beverage consumption during 2013-2016 (4) and 51.2% of adult total nonalcoholic beverage consumption during 2015-2018 (5). Compared with adults, youth consumed a higher proportion of milk, 100% fruit juice, and sweetened beverages and a lower proportion of coffee and tea and diet beverages in August 2021-August 2023. Water and sweetened beverage contributions increased with age for youth but decreased with age for adults. Previous research has shown similar trends by age (4,5).

Between 2013-2014 and August 2021-August 2023, significant increases were seen in the contribution of water to total nonalcoholic beverage consumption along with corresponding decreases in the contributions of milk, 100% fruit juice, and sweetened beverages for both youth and adults. Over time, these changes come closer to meeting ongoing DGA recommendations emphasizing water as a primary beverage for youth and adults (3,6).

Definition

Beverages: Nonalcoholic beverages are grouped as water, milk, 100% fruit juice, coffee and tea, sweetened beverages, and diet beverages based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's What We Eat in America food categories (7). Water includes tap, bottled, carbonated, and noncarbonated water. Milk includes flavored varieties, dairy milk substitutes (such as soy or almond milk), and milk consumed as part of a combination food (as in milk added to cereal). Coffee includes brewed and instant coffee as well as prepared coffee drinks that may contain lighteners or sweeteners. Tea includes brewed, prepared, or herbal teas as well as prepared tea drinks that may contain sweeteners. The category 100% fruit juice includes 100% fruit and vegetable juices. Sweetened beverages include soft drinks, sports and energy drinks, fruit drinks, fruit and vegetable smoothies, nutritional beverages, and grain drinks. Diet beverages include diet soft drinks, diet sports and energy drinks, and other diet drinks. Alcoholic beverages are not included.

The contribution of each beverage type to total nonalcoholic beverage consumption was computed for each participant who reported any nonalcoholic beverage intake on a given day as the grams of that beverage divided by the total grams of all included (nonalcoholic) beverages, multiplied by 100.

Data source and methods

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2013-2014 through August 2021-August 2023 were used for these analyses. NHANES is a cross-sectional survey with a complex, multistage probability design that is conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. It is designed to monitor the health and nutritional status of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population and consists of home interviews followed by standardized health examinations conducted in mobile examination centers (MECs), as well as two 24-hour (midnight-to-midnight) dietary recall interviews with trained interviewers (8). For youth younger than age 6, interviews were conducted with a proxy knowledgeable about their intake, while interviews with youth ages 6-11 were conducted with the youth and a proxy, and youth age 12 and older answered for themselves (9). The August 2021-August 2023 survey cycle included a mode change for dietary data collection (10). In prior survey cycles included in this report, the first 24-hour dietary recall interview was conducted in person during the MEC visit, whereas in the August 2021-August 2023 survey cycle, both 24-hour dietary recall interviews were conducted over the phone following the MEC visit (10).

This analysis included all examined NHANES participants age 2 and older who had reliable dietary recall data from the Day 1 interview. Day 1 dietary sample weights were used to account for the differential probabilities of selection, nonresponse, and noncoverage (8). Taylor series linearization was used to calculate variance estimates. Differences between groups were tested using a univariate t statistic. Tests for linear trends by age group were evaluated using orthogonal polynomials. Linear and quadratic trends over time were tested using polynomial regression models, accounting for the unequal spacing and lengths of survey cycles. Statistical significance was set at p less than 0.05.

Analyses were conducted using SAS System for Windows version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, N.C.), SUDAAN version 11.0 (RTI International, Research Triangle Park, N.C.), and R version 4.4.0, including the R survey package version 4.4-2.

About the authors

Nicholas Ansai and Catharine A. Couch are with the National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Ann Goding Sauer is with the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity.

References

1. Vieux F, Maillot M, Rehm CD, Barrios P, Drewnowski A. Trends in tap and bottled water consumption among children and adults in the United States: Analyses of NHANES 2011-16 data. Nutr J. 2020 Jan;19(10):1-15. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12937-020-0523-6.
2. Ferruzzi MG, Tanprasertsuk J, Kris-Etherton P, Weaver CM, Johnson EJ. Perspective: The role of beverages as a source of nutrients and phytonutrients. Adv Nutr. 2020 May;11(3):507-23. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmz115.
3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dietary guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030. 2026. Available from: https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf.
4. Herrick KA, Terry AL, Afful J. Beverage consumption among youth in the United States, 2013-2016. NCHS Data Brief. 2018 Sep;(320):1-8.
5. Martin CB, Wambogo EA, Ahluwalia N, Ogden CL. Nonalcoholic beverage consumption among adults: United States. 2015-2018. NCHS Data Brief. 2020 Sep;(376):1-8.
6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dietary guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 2020. Available from: https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans-2020-2025.pdf.
7. Agricultural Research Service. What we eat in America food categories: 2021-2023. 2024. Available from: https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/80400530/pdf/2123/Food_Category_List_2021-2023.pdf.
8. Terry AL, Chiappa MM, McAllister J, Woodwell DA, Graber JE. Plan and operations of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, August 2021-August 2023. Vital Health Stat 1. 2024 May;(66):1-21. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/151927.
9. National Center for Health Statistics. 2021 dietary interviewer procedures manual. 2021 May. Available from: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/public/2021/manuals/2021-Dietary-Interviewer-Procedures-508.pdf [_blank].
10. Williams AM, Terry A, Akinbami LJ, Ansai N, Ogden CL. What we eat in America dietary data, NHANES: August 2021-August 2023 24-hour dietary recall interview mode change. 2025 Mar. Available from: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/data/Nhanes/Public/2021/Whitepapers/Aug2023-What-We-Eat-In-America-Dietary-Data-Whitepaper.pdf.

Suggested citation

Ansai N, Couch CA, Goding Sauer A. Nonalcoholic beverage consumption among youth and adults: United States, August 2021-August 2023. NCHS Data Brief. 2026 Sep;(568):1-13. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/252466.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health Statistics

Carolyn M. Greene, M.D., Acting Director
Amy M. Branum, Ph.D., Associate Director for Science

Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
Alan E. Simon, M.D., Director
Lara J. Akinbami, M.D., Associate Director for Science