The HealthSaver 2008 [image-nocss] Caffeinated Cities Survey was conducted to determine the caffeine consumption habits and attitudes of consumers across the United States, and to learn more about cultural views and health benefits of this morning pick-me-up, afternoon alert booster and late-night indulgence.
Other cities surveyed in 2008 include Baltimore, Miami, Boston, Houston, Phoenix, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Detroit, Philadelphia and St. Louis.
For the second year in a row, Seattle ranked No. 1 in coffee consumption, with 55% of residents surveyed saying this elixir of alertness would be the most difficult caffeine product to give up.
Nearly one-half (49%) of all respondents nationwide said they drink caffeinated coffee every day, while cola and tea tied with a 20% daily consumption rate. Sweets containing chocolate ranked fourth among caffeine products, with a 13% daily consumption, the survey found.
Consumers tipped their coffee cups on a variety of caffeine-related trends: For the second straight year, nearly one-half of all respondents (42%) said coffee/specialty drinks would be the hardest to give up. Men are much more likely than women (47% vs. 39%) to say coffee would be the hardest to give up, similar to the first annual survey. Nearly three-fourths (72%) of all respondents said they are not addicted to caffeine.
Among age groups, the older the consumer, the more likely they are to say coffee would be the most difficult caffeinated product to give up, a pattern similar to that found last year. Other key findings of the study: Women are more likely than men to say they are addicted to caffeine (29% of women vs. 24% of men). A majority (64%) said they consume about the same amount of caffeine as they did a year ago. More than one-fourth (28%) consume less caffeine now than they did a year ago.
The younger the age group, the more likely they are to say they consume more caffeine than a year ago. Among respondents consuming less caffeine, 53% said it is because they are seeking to improve their health; and nearly one-fourth (24%) of those consuming less caffeine are doing so because of a change of diet/currently on a diet plan. More than one-fourth said they consume more caffeine than a year ago because their everyday routine is more demanding. Another 6% said it was because they have more access to caffeine and 2% said they consume more because of fatigue due to sleep problems. Over one-half of respondents said they are way over their ideal weight (12%) or over their ideal weight (54%). Only 4% said they were under their ideal weight.
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HealthSaver, an emerging health care discount program, offers savings on prescriptions, vision care, complementary and alternative health care treatments, vitamins and supplements by mail and more than 1,500 fitness clubs nationwide, including select Bally Total Fitness, World Gym and Ladies Workout Express locations. HealthSaver is offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the membership, insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services that touch the lives of millions of Americans.
Prince Market Research, an independent marketing research company, was commissioned to conduct a nationally representative telephone study with consumers in 20 major metropolitan areas in the United States to learn more about their use of caffeine in everyday beverages and food.
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