Public Health England has announced that between 2008 and 2016 the mean daily consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks fell by 15% for four- to ten-year-olds and by 11% for 11- to 18-year-olds, according to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS).

Between 2008/09 and 2009/10, which represent years one and two of the NDNS, the mean daily consumption by four- to ten-year-olds of sugar-sweetened soft drinks was 130g per day. In years seven and eight, between 2014/15 and 2015/16, the figure was 83g per day.

For children aged between 11 and 18 the mean daily consumption in years one and two was 275g per day, compared with 191g per day in years seven and eight.

The NDNS is a ‘continual cross-sectional survey designed to access diet, nutrition intake and nutrition status of a representative sample of around 1,000 people per year’. It requires participants to take part in an interview, fill out a four day diet diary and provide blood and urine samples.

British Soft Drinks Association director general Gavin Parlington said: “We welcome the news from today’s NDNS data showing sugar intake from soft drinks down 15% in four- to ten-year-olds and 11% in 11- to 18-year-olds since 2012.

“It reflects in large part the action soft drinks companies have been taking for several years–reformulation to cut sugar content, increased investment in promoting new low and no calorie products plus smaller pack sizes.

“Today’s figures are in line with Kantar data showing overall sugar intake from soft drinks down by almost 19% in the last four years.”

The recorded reduction in the consumption of sugar-based soft drinks contributed to the general decline in free sugar intake by children in the four to ten and 11 to 18 age groups. However, sugar intake in years seven and eight failed to meet the recommended levels for all age groups.