America’s favourite beverage

Is not what you think.

Figures were published recently as part of a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, with 5,627 respondents reporting on all they drank over 2 days in 2009-10, a surprisingly long time ago.

• 1st came tap water.
• 2nd was plain bottled water.
• After a big gap, 2% fat milk ranked 3rd.
• Ground coffee was 4th.
• Whole milk was 5th.
• Cola came 6th.

Average consumption of all water was 0.55 litres a day.

Coffee consumption was 6 times higher at 8.00 in the morning than at lunchtime and still lower after dinner.

Soda consumption peaked at midday and again in the early evening.