Awareness and perceptions regarding taxation and health warnings related to sugar-sweetened beverages and the factors associated with these among visitors of a general out-patient clinic in Bhopal, India

Abstract

Introduction: Although increased taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and warning labels on their packaging have been successful in other countries, India has not implemented these. It is imperative to understand the user perspectives before implementation, regarding which almost no information exists. Objectives: To assess the awareness and perceptions of people regarding taxation and health warnings on SSB packaging, and to determine the factors associated with these. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the general out-patient clinic of a public tertiary care hospital in Bhopal, India, between April and November 2018. Patients and accompanying persons ≥15 years of age and attending the clinic were included. Severely ill patients were excluded. Exit interviews were conducted after the clinical consultation using a pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 21. Results: Out of the 503 participants interviewed, three-fourths had never heard of taxes on SSBs and had never seen any health warning on SSB packaging. Most participants (96.6%) wanted some health warning to be present on the packaging. Majority of them (69.3%) wanted both textual and pictorial warnings. Close to half of those who wanted a pictorial warning to be present opined that it should occupy <25% of the surface area of the packaging. Multivariable analysis showed that participants aged <25 years and females were not in favor of tax increment. Conclusion: Government policies should also focus on user perspectives and preferences before deciding to increase tax on SSBs or introducing mandatory health warnings on SSBs.

Taxing sugar-sweetened beverages: Knowledge, beliefs and where should the money go?

“…For example, participants who earned more than 30,000 AED appear more aware of SSB and are more likely to agree with their responses. This might be because low-income and education groups face greater challenges accessing health information [ 44 , 45 ], have different consumption characteristics [ 46 ], are affected more by price changes, and thus are less supportive of SSB taxation. Views from lower education and income groups could be addressed through health education programs and subsidies toward healthier alternatives and programs [ [47] , [48] , [49] , [50] ].…”

Determinants of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Adults in Perambalur District of India

“…Since 1998, SSB sales in India have increased by 13% per year, reaching about 11 liters per person per year [5]. Some nations have reduced the prevalence of SSB use by implementing higher tariffs and health warnings on SSB packaging [6]. The World Health Organization currently recommends that both adults and children limit their everyday consumption of free sugars to less than 10% of their total calorie intake [7].…”