US First: Bottled Water Outsold Milk in 2006

For the first time ever, Americans on average drank more bottled water in 2006 than milk, according to an industry newsletter that tracks U.S. beverage sales.

And Americans drank nearly as much bottled water as beer.

If the trend continues, Americans could be drinking more bottled water than tap water within a few years.

John Sicher, publisher of industry newsletter Beverage Digest, which tabulated the consumption figures, said portability and health are the key reasons for bottled water's popularity.

Resources: Beverage Digest