India: For Muskan Singh, a 24-year-old MBA student from Delhi, carbonated soft drinks were once her best friend. Gulping down a 500 ml bottle of Coke with dinner was something she did regularly and without a second thought. However, since embarking on a health initiative to ‘lose weight’, soft drinks are now the last thing on her mind. “I don’t remember the last time I had a soft drink,” says Muskan. Like her, many Indians, especially the younger generation, are opting for healthier options. They are staying away from sweetened beverages, especially carbonated beverages, which contain 54-60 grams (13.5-14 teaspoons) of sugar in a 500 ml bottle. Over the past few years, India has seen a rise in the prices of groceries due to inflation. The free coriander from our local grocery store is no longer free (it costs Rs 165 for 100 grams if you buy it online), and your favourite packet of chips now contains more air than actual chips. However, one thing that has seen a drop in price is carbonated drinks. Brands like Mirinda, Limca, Mountain Dew and even Sprite have reduced the price of their 2-litre bottles to around Rs 90-100, which was not the case earlier. Also, if you order food online, you have probably noticed that eateries like McDonald’s, Pizza Hut or Burger King give away soft drinks for practically free.
