More Australians aged 14 and older are drinking soy-based beverages than they are drinking energy, sports, iced tea and breakfast drinks.

According to Roy Morgan Research, in the 12 months ended March 2016, 5.7 per cent (or 1.1 million) Australians 14 and older drank at least one soy drink in any given seven-day period.

Comparatively, 5.6 per cent drank energy and sports drinks, 4.7 per cent consumed iced tea and breakfast beverages.

Energy and sport drink consumption has also been on the decline since 2012 whilst soy beverage consumption has been on the rise.

Soy drink consumption compared to other beverages, 2012 vs 2016

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia), April 2011-March 2012 (n=19,690) and April 2015-March 2016 (n=15,074).

Those living in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) drink the most soy with 9.3 per cent of the territory’s residents drinking a beverage weekly. Approximately 8 per cent of Melbourne residents drink soy weekly whilst only 6 per cent of Sydneysiders indulge in the beverage.

Interestingly, Roy Morgan Research found that soy drinkers were not just those who are avoiding dairy completely, with almost one-third (31.3 per cent) of Australians who consume soy weekly saying they also drink regular milk.

Industry Communications Director at Roy Morgan Research, Norman Morris, said whilst soy consumption shows no sign of challenging regular milk consumption, it still holds a certain niche in the non-alcoholic beverage market.

“Many Australians choose to drink soy milk because of the discomfort or adverse reactions dairy products cause them,” Morris said.

“Consumers interested in health and nutrition are also more inclined to drink soy beverages: for example, people who ‘favour natural medicines and health products’ are more than 50% more likely than the average Aussie to drink soy milk, as are those who ‘look for drinks with added ingredients that are good for my body’,” he said.

“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,” Morris stated.

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