More Americans Will Drink Milk Than Beer During Super Bowl Telecast

Lee Klein

Can we possibly become any more disillusioned?

​From The Neilsen Co.: During the two weeks leading up to Super Bowl Sunday last year, Americans purchased 49.2 million cases of beer. More cases of beer were sold in the two week period prior to July 4th, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Father's Day, Cinco de Mayo, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Halloween, and Easter!

From the NPD Group, a market research company that tracks Americans' eating habits: A ranking of foods and beverages that were consumed in our homes during the last three Super Bowls (either during the main evening meal or as part of the evening snacks):

1. Vegetables
2. Potatoes
3. Carbonated Soft Drinks
4. Total Salty Snacks
5. Sandwiches
6. Salads
7. Chicken
8. Milk
9. Pizza
10.Tea

"The list looks like the foods and beverages consumed on any Sunday," says Harry Balzer, vice president of The NPD Group. "It always amazes me that we think everybody is eating pizza and drinking beer on this day. While there will certainly be increases in pizza and beer consumption by those that watch the big game...most Americans will not watch football on Sunday, but all of us will eat and drink. On this Sunday, there will be more glasses of milk consumed in our homes during the Super Bowl telecast than any other beverage ... except soft drinks."