Published: March 2014

ID #: 69173

Journal: Prev Med

Authors: Gollust SE, Barry CL, Niederdeppe J

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Strategies to reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are a key component of public health promotion and obesity prevention, yet the introduction of many of these policies has been met with political controversy. This paper assesses the levels and determinants of U.S. public support for policies to reduce consumption of SSBs. Respondents to an internet-based survey were asked about their support for a variety of SSBs-related policies: 1) taxing sugary drinks; 2) prohibiting the sale of sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces; 3) prohibiting advertising of sugary drinks on kids’ TV programming; 4) requiring TV stations to provide free air time for public service announcements on healthy eating and exercise equal to the time used advertising sugary drinks; 5) prohibiting schools from selling sugary drinks on school property; and 6) including large and prominently placed calorie labels on sugary drinks. Respondent support was lowest for SSB taxes (21.6%) and portion size restrictions (25.5%), and highest for requiring large and prominently-placed calorie labels on SSBs (65.0%) and restricting the sale of SSBs on school property (61.5%). Democrats and those with negative views of soda companies were more likely to support the policies.

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