Of the respondents 76.2% reported drinking sugary drinks and
most of the adult participants of the study described doing so as ‘out of habit’. Many
participants viewed sugary drinks as a source of energy but few linked it to weight
gain or a high amount of calories. The majority however were aware of the negative
effect of drinking sugary drinks on dental health. Adults reported that price affects
their decisions to consume sugary drinks and reported buying sugary drinks on offer,
or when it is part of a meal deal. Children and young people, on the other hand,
bought a sugary drink if they wanted one, provided they had money for it,
regardless of the price. Generally, the respondents found tax on sugary drinks
acceptable but thought 20% would not be enough to impact consumption.