Imperial College London
Alternate

Dr Kelsey Case

Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health

Honorary Research Fellow
 
 
 
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Contact

 

+44 (0)20 7594 1524k.case

 
 
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Location

 

LG33BPraed StreetSt Mary's Campus

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Summary

 

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Case:2022:10.1186/s12889-022-13945-9,
author = {Case, K and Pineda, E and Olney, J and Segal, A and Sassi, F},
doi = {10.1186/s12889-022-13945-9},
journal = {BMC Public Health},
title = {The ‘sugar tax’ in Bermuda: a mixed methods study of general population and key stakeholder perceptions},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13945-9},
volume = {22},
year = {2022}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - BackgroundTaxes on discretionary foods and sugar-sweetened beverages have emerged as a strategy for health promotion. Between 2018-2019, the Bermuda government introduced a phased tax on imported sugar-sweetened beverages, confectionery, products containing cocoa and pure sugar, and eliminated import duties on select healthy food items. The aim of this study was to conduct an mixed methods evaluation of perceptions of the tax among the general population and key stakeholders.MethodsWe conducted a survey of the general population (N = 400), and semi-structured interviews with key informants (N = 14) from the government, food and beverage, and health sectors to understand awareness, acceptability, and perceived impact of the tax after implementation.  Survey data was analysed using thematic analysis, summary statistics, and Chi-squared tests. Key informant interviews were analysed using the framework method.ResultsGeneral population respondents had high awareness of the sugar tax (94%) but low awareness of the healthy food subsidy (32%). Most respondents (67%) felt the tax was not an appropriate way to motivate healthier consumption due to beliefs the tax would not be effective (44%), and because of the high price of healthy food (20%). However, nearly half (48%) reported consuming fewer taxed products, primarily for health reasons but also motivated by price increases. Key informants indicated there was high awareness but limited understanding of the tax policy. Informants expressed support for taxation as a health promotion strategy, conditional on policy implementation. The lack of clear price differentiation between taxed and un-taxed products and the absence of accompanying health education  were key factors believed to affect the impact of the tax. No informants were aware of use of tax revenues for health purposes and tax revenue was reportedly re-directed to other priorities after implementation.ConclusionsThere was high awareness, but limited acceptability of
AU  - Case,K
AU  - Pineda,E
AU  - Olney,J
AU  - Segal,A
AU  - Sassi,F
DO  - 10.1186/s12889-022-13945-9
PY  - 2022///
SN  - 1471-2458
TI  - The ‘sugar tax’ in Bermuda: a mixed methods study of general population and key stakeholder perceptions
T2  - BMC Public Health
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13945-9
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/98640
VL  - 22
ER  -
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