Taxes, labels, or nudges? Public acceptance of various interventions designed to reduce sugar intake

This study investigated public acceptance of several specific government interventions to lower sugar intake in the population, using data from the first wave (2017) of a large survey (Swiss Food Panel 2.0) on eating behavior conducted in the German- and French-speaking regions of Switzerland (N = 5238; 48.7% men). Acceptance varied considerably among different interventions; the least intrusive (i.e., a front-of-package label on products highlighting the sugar content and public health campaigns) garnered the most support, while more restrictive interventions (i.e., taxation, substitution with artificial sweeteners, and the reduction of portion sizes) generated higher resistance. Sugar consciousness and diet-related health consciousness were the strongest predictors of acceptance. Support was stronger among women, dieters, residents from the French-speaking areas of Switzerland, and people living in urban areas. Certain risk groups including overweight participants and those consuming higher amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages were more strongly opposed to these kinds of interventions. The different levels of acceptance must be taken into account by governments when planning interventions designed to reduce sugar intake.