Taxing sugar-sweetened beverages: a survey of knowledge, attitudes and behaviours

Abstract

Objective: To assess current beverage consumption patterns and anticipated reaction to an added 20 % tax on these products.

Design: A random-digit dialled telephone interview lasting 20 min was administered to assess demographics, beverage consumption behaviours and intentions regarding consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in the event of an additional tax on these beverages.

Setting: Respondents were recruited throughout the USA.

Subjects: The study included 592 adults.

Results: Sixty-nine per cent of respondents reported consuming at least one pre-packaged sugar-sweetened beverage in the past week; those who consumed sugar-sweetened beverages averaged seven pre-packaged beverages per week. Ninety-one per cent knew that frequent consumption of soft drinks increases risk of obesity. Thirty-six per cent supported a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages with greatest support among those aged 18-24 years, those with BMI < 30 kg/m2 and those with higher levels of education (P < 0·05). Over one-third of respondents said that they would cut back on their sweetened beverage consumption in the event of an added 20 % tax on these beverages.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that an added tax on these beverages could influence some to cut down on their consumption, reducing their risk of obesity and related illnesses.

Fig. 1

(colour online) Knowledge about health effects related to consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) according to SSB consumption in the past week ( (solid), no; (hatched), yes) among a random-digit dialled telephone sample of US adults (n 592), April 2009–June 2010. None of the differences were statistically significant (χ² test)