UK public underestimating sugar levels in popular drinks

People in the UK are significantly misjudging the amount of sugar in popular drinks, particularly those perceived as "healthy" options according to research revealed today by the University of Glasgow. 2,005 people from across the UK were asked to estimate how many teaspoons of sugar were in some of the UK's most popular drinks. Whilst people generally slightly overestimated the amount of sugar in carbonated drinks, they significantly underestimated the sugar levels in a milkshake, a smoothie, an energy drink and a variety of fruit juices - by nearly 18 teaspoons for one popular pomegranate juice drink [see graph and chart below for further detail]. Those surveyed were also asked to estimate their average weekly liquid consumption in detail, suggesting that the average person in the UK consumes 659 grams of sugar and 3,144 calories per week (which equates to 450 calories per day) through non-alcoholic liquid intake. This is the equivalent of nearly a quarter of recommended daily calories for a woman and a fifth for men. The availability and consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks, such as full sugar carbonated drinks, fruit drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks, has increased considerably over the past two decades. The overconsumption of sugar-sweetened drinks contributes to obesity which is a major risk factor for health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease and stroke.