Characteristics Associated with Household Purchases of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in US Restaurants

This study aimed to describe beverages purchased in restaurants among a nationally representative sample of US households.

Data were obtained from the US Department of Agriculture National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey, 2012 to 2013. Survey-weighted multiple regressions assessed correlates of purchasing a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB), purchasing a low-calorie beverage, and per capita beverage calories and grams of sugar among purchases from US restaurants (n = 14,669).

Dining at a top fast-food chain (odds ratio = 1.9 [95% CI = 1.6, 2.3] vs. small chain or independent restaurants) and ordering a combination meal (2.8 [1.3, 3.3]) or from the kids' menu (2.1 [1.2, 3.4]) were positively associated with purchasing an SSB. Age (young adult and adolescent vs. older adult; 0.7 [0.5, 0.9] and 0.4 [0.3, 0.7], respectively), race (Black vs. White; 0.4 [0.3, 0.6]), ethnicity (Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic; 0.8 [0.6, 0.9]), and household food security (very low vs. high; 0.7 [0.5, 0.8]) were associated with purchasing a low-calorie beverage. Caloric beverage purchases contained the most calories and grams of sugar per capita when purchased by Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black adolescents.

US households purchase a considerable amount of SSBs from the nation's largest chain restaurants, particularly when combination meals or kids' menu items are ordered, and there are disparities by age, race/ethnicity, and household food security.