While energy drinks have slipped in popularity in recent years, soy beverages have been performing a little better.
Since 2012, there have been an additional 115,000 Aussies who drink soy milk at least once per week, said Roy Morgan Research.
The study reveals that soy drinks are more popular with Australians 14+ than energy drinks, sports drinks, iced teas or breakfast drinks. In the 12 months to March 2016, 5.7 per cent of Australians (or just more than 1.1 million people) reported consuming at least one soy drink in any given seven-day period, a smidgeon ahead of those who consumed energy drinks (5.6 per cent), sports drinks (5.6 per cent), iced tea (4.7 per cent) and breakfast drinks (4.7 per cent).
Norman Morris, industry communications director, Roy Morgan Research, says: “While soy drink consumption shows no sign of challenging regular dairy milk (which is drunk by 44.4 per cent of the population in an average seven days), it does occupy a certain niche in the non-alcoholic beverage market, with slightly more consumers than energy and sports drinks.
Morris said many Australians prefer soy milk to ordinary dairy because of their adverse reactions to dairy products. He added that health-conscious consumers are the ones more inclined to drink soy beverages.
“However, the fact that almost a third of soy drinkers also consume regular dairy milk suggests that for some people, soy drinks aren’t a lifestyle choice but simply another beverage option. Just as a consumer might drink coffee and hot chocolate, or cola and lemonade, so too might someone vary the kind of milk they consume.”
Figures also show that dairy and soy milk consumption are not as mutually exclusive as one might think. Almost one-third of Australians who consume soy drinks in an average seven days also drink regular fresh white milk in that time.
