TEHRAN – Iran’s per capita consumption of soft drinks is 42 liters, which is four times higher than the world's average per capita consumption, a sociologist said here on Sunday.

Majid Abhari blamed advertising for such a high consumption of soft drinks in the country.
Despite of financial costs, excessive consumption of sugar sweetened drinks and soda pops led to a great number of health problems, including an increase of childhood obesity, damages to kidneys, and digestive system, Abhari said.
On the country’s alarming rise in obesity, he said that one of the simpler ways to curtail the obesity epidemic could be “to cut the volume of sweetened soft drinks and fruit drinks we are increasingly consuming.”
There are also a link between high consumption of sweet beverages and tiredness, anxiety, and a greatly increased risk of diabetes, Abhari explained.
He referred to “The Year of Conservation” -- the current Iranian calendar year of 1388 (began March 20), named by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei – and called for changes in consumption patterns and intake of other beverages such as tea, coffee, and fruit juices for all age groups