The soft drink beverage industry produces a range of nonalcoholic beverages and is a large segment of the economy, creating jobs and generating billions in economic activity. Carbonated soft drinks make up the largest segment of the industry, despite recent declining sales. Increasing consumer concern over health issues has led the industry to diversify its product ranges, and soft drinks in the energy drink, ready-to-drink tea, and bottled water segments are expanding. Many soft drinks contain high levels of sugar, and these drinks have come under scrutiny as contributors to health risks in adults and children.

Global consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks has increased in recent decades. Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are drinks such as sodas, sports drinks, sweetened teas, and fruit drinks that contain added caloric ...