{"id":12021,"date":"2024-12-11T20:35:10","date_gmt":"2024-12-11T20:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=12021"},"modified":"2024-12-11T20:35:11","modified_gmt":"2024-12-11T20:35:11","slug":"soda-taxes-drive-major-shift-in-public-attitudes-toward-sugary-beverages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/soda-taxes-drive-major-shift-in-public-attitudes-toward-sugary-beverages\/","title":{"rendered":"Soda Taxes Drive Major Shift in Public Attitudes Toward Sugary Beverages"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">New research led by UC Berkeley indicates that soda taxes not only reduce sales but also influence public attitudes and social norms about the healthfulness of sugary beverages, potentially heralding a broader shift in public health.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0dfbf163 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px;\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In recent years, taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages have done more than just curb sales; they\u2019ve initiated a significant shift in public perception, similar to the era of anti-smoking campaigns. A new study led by the University of California, Berkeley uncovers the profound impact these taxes have had on societal attitudes toward sugary drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The research, <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/39581976\/\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in BMC Public Health, reveals that the landmark soda tax in Berkeley, along with subsequent taxes in the Bay Area, has resulted in a cultural shift regarding the consumption of sugar-laden beverages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kristine A. Madsen, a professor at UC Berkeley&#8217;s School of Public Health and senior author of the study, emphasized the broader implications for public health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSocial norms are really powerful. The significant shift we saw in how people are thinking about sugary drinks demonstrates what else we could do,\u201d Madsen said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/news.berkeley.edu\/2024\/12\/10\/bay-area-soda-taxes-dont-just-affect-sales-they-help-change-peoples-minds\/\" title=\"\">news release<\/a>. \u201cWe could reimagine a healthier food system. It starts with people thinking, \u2018Why drink so much soda?\u2019 But what if we also said, \u2018Why isn\u2019t most of the food in our grocery stores food that makes us healthy?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study analyzed surveys from 9,128 residents in lower-income neighborhoods across Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco and Richmond, spanning data from 2016 to 2019 and 2021. Researchers aimed to discern how soda taxes influenced public attitudes and social norms \u2014 the unspoken societal rules that shape behaviors and choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The survey participants reported their perceptions of how often their neighbors consumed sodas, sports drinks and sugary juices. They also rated the healthfulness of various beverages. The findings showed a 28% decrease in the social acceptability of drinking sugar-sweetened beverages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following Oakland&#8217;s tax increase, positive perceptions of sports drink consumption declined more significantly compared to neighboring cities. Similarly, in San Francisco, attitudes towards the healthfulness of sugary fruit drinks decreased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat it means when social norms change is that people say, \u2018Gosh, I guess we don\u2019t drink soda. That\u2019s just not what we do. Not as much. Not all the time,\u2019\u201d Madsen added. \u201cAnd that\u2019s an amazing shift in mindsets.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This latest study adds to a growing body of research from UC Berkeley on the impact of soda taxes. A <a href=\"https:\/\/news.berkeley.edu\/2016\/08\/23\/sodadrinking\/\" title=\"\">2016 study<\/a> noted a drop in soda consumption alongside an uptick in water intake. Another <a href=\"https:\/\/news.berkeley.edu\/2019\/02\/21\/three-years-into-soda-tax-sugary-drink-consumption-down-more-than-50-percent-in-berkeley\/\" title=\"\">study in 2019<\/a> reported a significant decline in sugar-sweetened drink purchases. <a href=\"https:\/\/publichealth.berkeley.edu\/news-media\/research-highlights\/taxes-on-sugar-sweetened-drinks-drive-decline-in-consumption\" title=\"\">Earlier this year<\/a>, UC Berkeley researchers found that such beverage purchases fell dramatically across five major U.S. cities with soda taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The penny-per-ounce tax on these beverages, imposed on distributors who pass the cost to consumers, has been an effective communication tool, fueling public health dialogue. The researchers identified over 700 media stories about soda taxes during the study period, underscoring the role of media in shaping social norms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Madsen underscored the necessity for future public health interventions to harness the power of social norms, similar to the strategies used to curtail smoking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf we change our behaviors, the environment follows,\u201d she added. \u201cWhile policy really matters and is incredibly important, we as individuals have to advocate for a healthier food system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The findings from this research provide an optimistic outlook for public health initiatives, suggesting that the collective mindset towards healthier living can indeed be reshaped by thoughtful policy measures and sustained media engagement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In recent years, taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages have done more than just curb sales; they\u2019ve initiated a significant shift in public perception, similar to the era of anti-smoking campaigns. A new study led by the University of California, Berkeley uncovers the profound impact these taxes have had on societal attitudes toward sugary drinks. The research, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-people-culture"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"In recent years, taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages have done more than just curb sales; they\u2019ve initiated a significant shift in public perception, similar to the era of anti-smoking campaigns. A new study led by the University of California, Berkeley uncovers the profound impact these taxes have had on societal attitudes toward sugary drinks. The research,&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12021","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12021"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12021\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12047,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12021\/revisions\/12047"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12021"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}