Teen Soda Preferences Shift: Coca-Cola Tops Charts, Sprite Moves Up
The latest research from Piper Sandler’s Spring 2024 “Taking Stock With Teens” survey reveals a notable shift in teen soda consumption, with Coca-Cola overtaking Pepsi as the leading brand among U.S. teenagers. The semiannual survey, which gathered insights from 6,020 Gen Z teens across 47 states—average age 16.2—offers critical indicators for beverage marketers targeting this demographic.
Coca-Cola now commands the top spot with 23% of the vote, reflecting a significant uptick compared to previous years. Pepsi, which led the spring survey in 2023 with 22%, has slid to third place with 16% of teen preferences. Sprite, also a Coca-Cola brand, now holds the second position with 20%, up from 14% just a year ago.
These movements highlight a strengthening brand affinity toward Coca-Cola’s portfolio among younger consumers. Sprite’s rising popularity may be driven by flavor innovation and strong ties to pop culture and influencer marketing, areas where the brand has consistently invested.
Mountain Dew, which held second place in the previous year, has dropped to fourth with 10% share. Dr Pepper rounds out the top five with 9% of teen votes, maintaining a stable position.
Soda remains the most preferred beverage category among teens, capturing 21% of their stated preference. It’s followed closely by water (13%), coffee (12%), and energy drinks (11%). Notably, the energy drink category saw a slight decrease year-over-year, suggesting a potential plateau in the previously surging segment.
The report underscores an opportunity for soda brands to capitalize on Gen Z loyalty and entertainment crossover appeal. Strategic positioning, flavor innovation, and lifestyle-oriented branding will remain crucial for companies striving to capture and maintain teen market share.
For FMCG executives, these shifts signal the importance of aligning brand messaging with evolving youth culture and habits. As the Gen Z cohort gains more spending power, understanding their beverage preferences becomes increasingly vital to long-term portfolio performance.