Soda sales to fizzle as people cut back

NEW YORK - Most consumers plan to drink about the same amount or less this year, costing beverage companies about $8 billion in sales, according to a study release on Friday.

About 74 percent of consumers surveyed said they planned to spend the same or less on soft drinks, according to the study by the business advisory firm AlixPartners. For carbonated sodas, about 25 percent planned to spend less, while only 18 percent said they planned to spend more.