ArticlePloS one2018
The palatability of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation: A content analysis of newspaper coverage of the UK sugar debate.
Article in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed.
- The portrayal of panic-buying and stockpiling in English newspapers during Covid, a mixed-method content analysis.PloS one · 2025Article
- Generative artificial intelligence and machine learning methods to screen social media content.PeerJ. Computer science · 2025Article
- Examining the Role and Strategies of Advocacy Coalitions in California's Statewide Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax Debate (2001-2018).American journal of health promotion : AJHP · 2024Article
- A systematic scoping review evaluating sugar-sweetened beverage taxation from a systems perspective.Nature food · 2023Article
- Health taxes in Indonesia: a review of policy debates on the tobacco, alcoholic beverages and sugar-sweetened beverage taxes in the media.BMJ global health · 2023Review
- Article
- Framing a New Nutrition Policy: Changes on Key Stakeholder's Discourses throughout the Implementation of the Chilean Food Labelling Law.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Reactions of industry and associated organisations to the announcement of the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy: longitudinal thematic analysis of UK media articles, 2016-18.BMC public health · 2023Article
- Contextual Factors That May Impact on the Development and Implementation of the Sugary Drinks Policy Comment on "Understanding Marketing Responses to a Tax on Sugary Drinks: A Qualitative Interview Study in the United Kingdom, 2019".International journal of health policy and management · 2023Article
- The Instrumental Role of Strategic Communication to Counter Industry Marketing Responses to Sugary Drink Taxes Comment on "Understanding Marketing Responses to a Tax on Sugary Drinks: A Qualitative Interview Study in the United Kingdom, 2019".International journal of health policy and management · 2023Article
- Print media coverage of breastfeeding in Great Britain: Positive or negative?Maternal & child nutrition · 2023Article
- Newspaper media framing of obesity during pregnancy in the UK: A review and framework synthesis.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2022Review
- Newspaper framing of food and beverage corporations' sponsorship of sport: a content analysis.BMC public health · 2022Article
- A comparative policy analysis of the adoption and implementation of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes (2016-19) in 16 countries.Health policy and planning · 2022Article
- Concepts of responsibility in the German media debate on sugar taxation: a qualitative framing analysis.European journal of public health · 2022Article
- Measuring public opinion and acceptability of prevention policies: an integrative review and narrative synthesis of methods.Health research policy and systems · 2022Review
- Effectiveness and Policy Determinants of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes.Journal of dental research · 2021Article
- Dementia in Media Coverage: A Comparative Analysis of Two Online Newspapers across Time.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Article
- Online News Coverage of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Tax in Malaysia: Content Analysis.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundExcess sugar consumption, including sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), contributes to a variety of negative health outcomes, particularly for young people. The mass media play a powerful role in influencing public and policy-makers' perceptions of public health issues and their solutions. We analysed how sugar and SSB policy debates were presented in UK newspapers at a time of heightened awareness and following the announcement of the UK Government's soft drinks industry levy (SDIL), to inform future public health advocacy. METHODS &
findingsWe carried out quantitative content analysis of articles discussing the issues of sugar and SSB consumption published in 11 national newspapers from April 2015 to November 2016. 684 newspaper articles were analysed using a structured coding frame. Coverage peaked in line with evidence publication, campaigner activities and policy events. Articles predominantly supportive of SSB taxation (23.5%) outnumbered those that were predominantly oppositional (14.2%). However, oppositional articles outnumbered supportive ones in the month of the announcement of the SDIL. Sugar and SSB consumption were presented as health risks, particularly affecting young people, with the actions of industry often identified as the cause of the public health problem. Responsibility for addressing sugar overconsumption was primarily assigned to government intervention.
conclusionOur results suggest that the policy landscape favouring fiscal solutions to curb sugar and SSB consumption has benefited from media coverage characterising the issue as an industry-driven problem. Media coverage may drive greater public acceptance of the SDIL and any future taxation of products containing sugar. However, future advocacy efforts should note the surge in opposition coinciding with the announcement of the SDIL, which echoes similar patterns of opposition observed in tobacco control debates.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.