Table 2.
Key themes on sugars-sweetened beverages (SSB) and the SSB tax in focus group discussions conducted with adults aged 18 years or above (n 57) living in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, November–December 2017
| Key theme | Description | Exemplary excerpts |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency of SSB consumption | Participants reported daily consumption of SSB | ‘Every day, before I sleep, after eating I need to have Coke.’ (Female aged 18–25 years) ‘Every day, especially after our supper.’ (Male aged 26–35 years) |
| Reasons for SSB consumption | Key themes:
|
‘For me at home, you’d see when old people bring their glasses to drink, even children do the same, so even the children are used to it […] this is our habit.’ (Female aged 18–25 years) ‘Eish, if I don’t get it here, it is like there is something missing. It’s addictive, you like need it every day.’ (Male aged 36–55 years) ‘When you open the fridge at home, the first thing you see is it [sugary drinks] […] it’s always available.’ (Male aged 18–25 years) |
| Knowledge about SSB tax | Most participants not aware of SSB tax | ‘I’ve never heard about it.’ (Female aged 36–55 years) ‘I did hear something about they’re going to increase it, how much, how, when, I didn’t hear anything.’ (Male aged 18–25 years) |
| Perceived effects of SSB tax in South Africa | It was mostly perceived that the tax will not be effective Few participants felt it would be effective; one participant linked it to tobacco tax |
‘I personally think it won’t affect us because we have that thing that there’s inflation, so prices do go up, so I don’t think it will affect us.’ (Female aged 26–35 years) ‘I think it will [be effective] because just like the cigarette industry, the tax has made people aware and reduced smoking because its expensive, the same will apply to sugar beverages.’ (Female aged 18–25 years) |
| Thoughts on why government is implementing SSB tax | SSB tax negatively linked to corruption in government | ‘Gas is going up, food is going up, now they are talking about sugar and they are pointing it this side of Coke, it’s not only Coke, it’s another way of them getting money out of people’s pockets, simple.’ (Male aged 26–35 years) |