Sugary Drinks
Reduce the sugar you drink for better health
Overview
Many Alaskans are drinking too many sugary drinks, and they’re consuming them every day. Sugar is hidden in many types of drinks, including soda, sports and energy drinks, powdered mixes, fruit drinks, vitamin-enhanced drinks, and sweetened coffee and tea.
Drinking too much sugar increases chances of these serious health problems:
- Unhealthy weight gain
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- Tooth decay
The problem
Just one sweetened drink — such as one bottle of soda with 16 teaspoons of sugar —can have more added sugar than anyone should have in one day.
Despite recommended daily sugar limits, many Alaskans are drinking sodas and sugary beverages every day:
- About 20% of Alaska adults and almost 53% of Alaska high school students drink one or more sugary beverages every day (2021 Behavior Risk Surveillance System, 2023 BRFSS Youth Risk Surveillance System).
- 24% of Alaska 3-year-olds drink sugary beverages every day (2022 Alaska Childhood Understanding Behaviors Survey).
Visit our Publications webpage to find resources that can help Alaskans learn more, find ways to reduce sugary drinks in their family's diet, and live healthier and longer lives.
Solution
- Pediatricians, pediatric dentists, and dietitians agree children ages 2–5 should drink only water and low-fat milk.
- Sugary drinks are not recommended for children ages 5 and younger.
- For the best health, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend children younger than 2 have foods and drinks without any added sugar.
- The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans also recommend older children and adults limit the sugar they eat and drink for the best health.
- The following Alaska projects or resources promote water and low-fat milk instead of sugary drinks: