The Sweet and Sour of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax

Abstract

Obesity is a common and preventable Non-Communicable Disease that is of great importance. Population-based interventions are recognized to have a profound effect on improving health outcomes. One of these approaches includes the adoption of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Tax. Objectives: There were three objectives, 1) Explore the associations between age, gender, nationality, and SSB consumption, 2) explore SSB consumption during Covid-19 lockdown and, 3) inform policy decision making. Methods: A cross-sectional survey in the United Arab Emirates. We performed descriptive analysis and chi-square for independence to test the difference between the expected and the observed frequencies in one or more categories. Results: Since the introduction of the SSB tax, we report no change in SSB consumption by age, gender, or nationality. Further analysis of the proportion of sugar intake per day was significant (P-value <0.001) by nationality. There was no significant change in SSB consumption by age, gender, or nationality during the Covid-19 lockdown. Further analysis within the group that reported a change in SSB consumption (80.5%) had a reduction in SSB consumption. Conclusions: Age, gender, and nationality do not significantly impact SSB consumption, or during Covid-19 lockdown; thus, we accept the Null Hypothesis. Imposing a levy on frequently consumed SSB or revisiting levy by the gram, volume, or type of added sugar (or in combination) may prove more effective in reducing SSB consumption. Further research is needed to determine the extent income and education influence SSB consumption in the UAE and the enablers and barriers associated with SSB consumption.