It is evident at this point: sodas are no longer the big dog of the beverage industry. Artificial sweeteners and sparkling water options are closing in on the beverage market at an alarming but not surprising rate. The Digital Journal suggests that the global market for sugar-alternative beverages will increase to about 19.10 billion by 2024 (according to Grand View Research Inc.). With universities such as UW-Eau Claire using soda and related beverages as the staple of its food service, it should come as no surprise that across the board, no one is really satisfied with the unhealthy drinking options of its dining establishments.
Over the last year, sugary drink sales have plummeted. In contrast to this decline, The Wall Street Journal reports that the sales of Sparkling Ice, a sweetened but no-sugar drink, has risen 18% from 2014 to 2015. Sparkling drinks like La Croix have also risen over time, however it seems that universities haven’t quite caught on to the craze. Yegeun Yang, a 19-year-old freshman on campus at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, says that even though he eats on campus five days per week that he still doesn’t know about the healthier alternatives to sugary sodas. On the other hand, Jessica Nagel, a fifth year student, never drinks soda and would like to see more sugar-alternative beverages on campus.
Even if UW-Eau Claire couldn’t incorporate drinks like La Croix or Sparkling Ice in its repertoire, there are still other options. Logan Bergevin (20, sophomore) and Josh Brinkman (19, freshman) both said that if given the option, they would much rather see more fruit-infused juice options at the Davies Student Center on campus rather than soda, which neither reported drinking. If the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wanted to walk the walk rather than just talk the talk, it would make some serious revisions to its sugary drink options.
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/3060038
http://www.wsj.com/articles/sparkling-ice-floats-higher-as-other-diet-sodas-go-flat-1469093402
Productions by University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire students 