Title of Research
Public Perceptions of Sugar Sweetened Beverage Taxes: An Integrative Literature Review
Start Date
17-8-2018 9:30 AM
End Date
17-8-2018 11:30 AM
Abstract
Background: Carbonated soft drinks are one of the largest sources of calories in the American diet, providing over 5% of caloric intake, and no significant nutritional value. Governments across the globe have begun to implement sugar sweetened beverage taxes in an attempt to stem the proliferation of these health issues, but such policies remain unpopular and implementation difficult.
Objectives: The purpose of this integrative literature review was to examine the public perception of sugar sweetened beverage taxes and to determine what strategies are needed to successfully implement similar policies in the future.
Method: An integrative literature review was conducted using the keywords ((sweeten* OR carbonated OR sugar OR soda) (beverages OR drinks) and tax*)) AND (opinion OR perception* OR view* OR impression* OR coverage). A total of 4 databases were queried to conduct the review including: the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, and Nursing & Allied Health Database.
Results: The lack of widespread success of sugar sweetened beverage tax policies confirm that public opinion regarding such a tax remains low. Overall, sugar sweetened beverage tax policies have support overseas in Australia and France. However, support in the US continues to be low with public opinion falling into specific demographic and political corners, requiring specific information and messaging interventions to increase their viability as public health interventions.
Conclusions: While support continues to be low with public opinion subject to the larger forces of beverage company marketing and politics, there is some hope that both opinion and support are increasing in pockets of America and worldwide as the battle to fight obesity, noncommunicable diseases, and cancers continues on. Policy interventions such as taxation can be powerful tools to curb behaviors that negatively affect population health, while simultaneously providing an incentive to engage in healthier behaviors. With effectiveness hinging on public perception, this is a topic which could benefit significantly from further examination.
Keywords: sweetened beverage tax, public health interventions, community perceptions.
Included in
Public Perceptions of Sugar Sweetened Beverage Taxes: An Integrative Literature Review
Background: Carbonated soft drinks are one of the largest sources of calories in the American diet, providing over 5% of caloric intake, and no significant nutritional value. Governments across the globe have begun to implement sugar sweetened beverage taxes in an attempt to stem the proliferation of these health issues, but such policies remain unpopular and implementation difficult.
Objectives: The purpose of this integrative literature review was to examine the public perception of sugar sweetened beverage taxes and to determine what strategies are needed to successfully implement similar policies in the future.
Method: An integrative literature review was conducted using the keywords ((sweeten* OR carbonated OR sugar OR soda) (beverages OR drinks) and tax*)) AND (opinion OR perception* OR view* OR impression* OR coverage). A total of 4 databases were queried to conduct the review including: the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, and Nursing & Allied Health Database.
Results: The lack of widespread success of sugar sweetened beverage tax policies confirm that public opinion regarding such a tax remains low. Overall, sugar sweetened beverage tax policies have support overseas in Australia and France. However, support in the US continues to be low with public opinion falling into specific demographic and political corners, requiring specific information and messaging interventions to increase their viability as public health interventions.
Conclusions: While support continues to be low with public opinion subject to the larger forces of beverage company marketing and politics, there is some hope that both opinion and support are increasing in pockets of America and worldwide as the battle to fight obesity, noncommunicable diseases, and cancers continues on. Policy interventions such as taxation can be powerful tools to curb behaviors that negatively affect population health, while simultaneously providing an incentive to engage in healthier behaviors. With effectiveness hinging on public perception, this is a topic which could benefit significantly from further examination.
Keywords: sweetened beverage tax, public health interventions, community perceptions.