OBJECTIVE: To explore the associations between the consumption frequencies of alcohol, tea and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and the hypertension risk among Chinese adults.

DESIGN: A longitudinal study of the effect of beverage consumption on hypertension risk. Setting was nine provinces in China, including Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Shandong and Henan. The longitudinal data of the China Health and Nutrition Survey from 2004 to 2015 were used. A total of 4427 participants from 9 provinces were included at baseline.

OUTCOME: First incidence of hypertension.

RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 8.7 years, 1478 participants developed hypertension. Alcohol consumption more than twice a week in young men or middle-aged men was associated with a higher hypertension risk. Middle-aged women who consumed tea frequently, or young women who consumed SSBs less than once a week had a lower risk of hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS: High-frequency alcohol consumption increased the risk of hypertension in men, and frequent tea consumption and low-frequency SSBs consumption were associated with lower risk of hypertension in women. Consumption frequency of beverages was also suggested to be considered in the prevention and control of hypertension.