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The Inquiry: Why Do Mexicans Drink So Much Soda?

Why Do Mexicans Drink So Much Soda?

29/03/2016 GMT

BBC World Service - The Inquiry, Why Do Mexicans Drink So Much Soda?

Mexicans are among the world’s biggest soda consumers, and it’s affecting their health

Mexico has some of the highest rates of obesity and diabetes in the world. A big cause is their world leading consumption of sugary drinks.

Most research places Mexico at the top of the chart when it comes to the consumption of sugary drinks – by some estimates, they get through half a litre per person every day. Mexico also has some of the highest rates of obesity and diabetes in the world, exacerbated by their love of sugar sweetened beverages. 

To understand why, we look at how Coca-Cola became the country’s most popular fizzy drink brand, seen everywhere from sports fields to religious ceremonies. We explore the role the country’s poor water quality plays, and ask whether a tax on sugary drinks is helping Mexicans change their habits.

(Photo: A variety of fizzy drinks stocked on a shelf in a shop. Credit: Getty Images)

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