A map of soda consumption in 80 countries.

If any country has a soda problem, it’s the United States. Our thirst for soda is so great that public-health advocates want to tax it and New York City wants to limit serving sizes. Americans are the biggest cola cravers in the world, by a long shot. The average American buys a whopping 170 liters of soda in the course of a year. That’s 16 percent more than the next biggest soda consumers, Mexicans. Of course, where soda is unpopular, people may indulge in other beverages, such as tea, juice, and beer.

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