Beverage Industry Sets 2030 Low-Sugar Target

The Australian Beverages Council Limited has launched a voluntary roadmap focused on marketing, energy drinks, consumer awareness and product choice.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Nutrition

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of plain beverage cans in graded tones with a pale sugar-granule stack in front, on a cream surface, evoking industry commitments to reduce sugar. — The Australian Beverages Council launched a voluntary 2030 roadmap committing industry to lower sugar, limit marketing, and expand low- and no-sugar drink options. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Australian Beverages Council Limited launched its Beverage Choices Roadmap to 2030 at its annual Drinks Industry Dialogue. The voluntary framework sets industry commitments across four areas and builds on the sector's existing Sugar Reduction Pledge.

Why it matters

The roadmap reflects growing consumer demand for greater choice across beverage categories. Its central goal is to shift the water-based drinks market further toward low- and no-sugar options.

Low- and no-sugar options grew from 30 per cent of water-based drink sales in 1997 to 65 per cent in 2024, and the industry targets 70 per cent by 2030. The source does not explain how progress will be independently verified.

The players

Australian Beverages Council Limited

The Australian Beverages Council Limited is the industry body that represents beverage manufacturers and launched the roadmap.

The details

The roadmap sets voluntary industry commitments across responsible marketing and advertising, energy drinks, consumer awareness and product choice. It outlines plans to keep expanding low- and no-sugar beverage ranges and to reformulate products to reduce sugar, alongside clearer information to help consumers choose.

1997: Low- and no-sugar drinks held 30 per cent of the water-based drinks market.
2024: That share reached 65 per cent.
2030: The industry's target date for 70 per cent of water-based drink sales to be low- or no-sugar.

Big Picture

The roadmap builds directly on the industry's Sugar Reduction Pledge, extending voluntary sugar-reduction commitments into marketing, energy drinks and consumer choice. It marks a broader scope than the pledge alone covered.

Shoppers may see more low- and no-sugar water-based drinks on shelves as the industry works toward its 2030 target. The voluntary commitments do not themselves change what products are sold or how they are labelled.

The takeaway

Checking sugar content on drink labels remains the most direct way to choose lower-sugar beverages. Voluntary industry targets are a useful signal, but personal choices still shape intake.