Bean there, can’t quit that? You’re not the only one. Australia’s love affair with coffee isn’t exactly breaking news. With countless stellar roasters and baristas, plus the title of the world’s number one coffee shop for 2025, it’s no wonder we’re obsessed with a good cup of joe. But how many Aussies are so addicted to caffeine that they’d never give up the daily ritual?
New research by iSelect has uncovered the top 10 unhealthy habits Australians refuse to quit, and coffee came out on top. Out of the 1,000 Aussies surveyed, more than half of the respondents (54.5 per cent) are unwilling to break up with coffee, despite knowing it can lead to increased anxiety, disrupted sleep and caffeine dependency. Truth be told, we all know a colleague or friend who gets the shakes when they don’t have their morning java juice. Or maybe it’s you?
Coffee didn’t just top the list of unhealthy habits nationwide; it was the number one in all age groups and regions. Young Aussies (aged 18 to 24) were the least attached to their daily caffeine hit, with only 30.4 per cent resisting to give it up. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of those aged 65 and older said they couldn’t live without their cuppa (64.1 per cent).
South Australians are the most hooked on coffee, with 64.8 per cent of residents refusing to give up their daily brew. Surprisingly, Melbourne – commonly dubbed Australia’s coffee capital – has the lowest percentage (52.3 per cent) of people unwilling to quit coffee.
Next up on the list of unhealthy habits Aussies are reluctant to give up is sugary food at 35.2 per cent (apologies in advance if we just triggered your afternoon chocolate cravings). Other unhealthy diet-related habits to crack the top ten were alcohol, fast food, sugary/fizzy drinks and food delivery services. Behavioural habits also made their mark, with binge watching TV for several hours straight taking fifth place and excessive screen time / social media use coming in seventh. Maybe this is the nudge we all need to enjoy a wholesome home-cooked dinner and skip the doomscrolling tonight?
Here are the top 10 unhealthy habits in Australia:
- Coffee
- Consuming sugary foods
- Alcohol
- Eating fast food/takeaway
- Binge watching TV shows for several hours straight
- Sugar/fizzy drinks
- Excessive screen time/social media use
- Driving instead of walking or cycling when possible
- Food delivery services
- Staying up late/lack of sleep