A new Gallup poll finds that 48 percent of U.S. adults say they drink at least one glass of soda a day.
The poll is the first from Princeton, N.J.-based Gallup to measure daily soda consumption.
Among those who drink soda, the average daily amount is 2.6 glasses, with 28 percent drinking one glass a day, on average, and 20 percent drinking two or more glasses.
Meanwhile, 52 percent said they normally drink no soda.
The survey found that there is essentially no difference in the self-reported weight situation of Americans who drink two or more glasses of soda compared with those who drink none. About four in 10 of each group says they are either very or somewhat overweight. Those who drink one soda per day are slightly more likely to classify themselves as overweight. This might be explained by heavier soda drinkers consuming more diet soda than those who drink only one soda per day; however, the current survey question did not specify the type of soda consumed.
Soda consumption was higher among young adults, with 56 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds reporting they drink at least one glass of soda per day, compared with 46 percent of people ages 35 to 54.
While soda consumption is high, it is not as high as coffee consumption: 64 percent of U.S. adults say they drink at least one cup of coffee daily. This percentage has stayed about the same since 1999, despite the increase in coffee stores and coffee products available to consumers in recent years.
The results are based on telephone interviews with a random sample of about 1,000 U.S. adults, conducted between July 9 and 12. The findings are weighed so they are nationally representative.
