The Implications of the Sugar Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Habits Among Rural-Based South African University Students

Abstract

In April 2018, South Africa became the first African country to implement a Health Promotion Levy (HPL) on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). This study assessed sugar tax awareness among rural-based university students and involved 342 participants, with an additional 10% to account for attrition. However, only 257 students, randomly selected from six university residences at the University of Venda, reported consuming SSBs. Systematic sampling determined the room selection, and the data was collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire (8–28 October 2022). A knowledge questionnaire assessed the students’ understanding of the sugar tax. The results showed that 65.8% purchased SSBs five to six times a week, while 41.2% spent over R200 monthly on these beverages. The results showed that students had limited awareness and little perception of the sugar tax, reflecting a broader knowledge gap. Their negative behaviors toward sugar-sweetened beverages indicated that changing their consumption patterns would be challenging. Raising public awareness through taxation is widely recognized as an effective obesity prevention strategy, but misinformation, negative perceptions, and pessimistic attitudes may contribute to continued high consumption.

1. Introduction

The misuse of nutritional labels and excessive consumption of sugar are both a result of a lack of knowledge of those labels [1,2,3]. Over the past few decades, sugar consumption has surged both globally and in South Africa [4]. It has become more and more important to help people choose healthy foods [5]. People living in upper- and lower-middle-income countries consume more sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) than those in high-income and low-income countries. Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are those that contain added caloric sweeteners such as sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup, or fruit juice concentrates [6]. These beverages are increasingly popular worldwide, especially among children and teenagers [7]. They usually have a high sugar and caffeine content, which can induce overweight and obesity [8,9,10,11]. The incidence of these conditions is rising alarmingly, especially in the metropolitan areas of low- and middle-income countries [4]. One of the recognized metabolic risk factors for the emergence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is obesity [4,12].

While there are not many studies of young college adults consuming SSBs, those that do exist indicate that most students reported drinking SSBs [13]. Large portion sizes and a preference for fast food are common eating habits among university students, both of which have been linked to higher SSB usage. According to research conducted by [14], university students in South Africa have been found to have sedentary lifestyles, eat diets rich in added sugar and fat and lacking in fruits and vegetables, and lead inactive lifestyles. Soft drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks, and canned fruit beverages with added sugar are the SSB drinks that students consume. The WHO advises enacting an SSB tax to lower consumption and promote healthier dietary options, and this recommendation was included in the 2013 Global Action Plan [6]. The prevention of obesity and NCDs includes a variety of nutrition-improving measures, some of which include an SSB tax [15]. In 2018, South Africa (SA) became the first nation in Africa to implement a Health Promotion Levy (HPL) on SSBs. This sugar tax policy initiative aims to reduce obesity and address the health consequences of being overweight. Studies have highlighted that having enough information about SSBs regarding their adverse effects on one’s health is beneficial [7,13]. The HPL imposes a levy of 2.1 cents per gram of sugar exceeding 4 g per 100 mL in beverages. This policy is grounded in scientific evidence linking excessive sugar intake to obesity and chronic diseases. In response, some manufacturers reformulated their products to reduce the sugar content and minimize taxation. While the levy has contributed to public health benefits and increased awareness, challenges such as economic concerns and resistance from the beverage industry remain. Students’ attitudes and perceptions toward SSBs are shaped by various factors, including health beliefs, social norms, self-control, and cognitive biases [16,17,18,19,20]. Understanding these psychological and behavioral theories can inform the development of effective interventions, such as education campaigns, policy adjustments, and environmental changes (e.g., restricting SSB availability on university campuses) to encourage healthier choices. There is a strong interplay among health-related taxes, knowledge, perception, and consumption of SSBs. Higher awareness and positive perceptions can lead to reduced consumption, while misinformation and negative attitudes may limit the effectiveness of such policies [21,22,23]. This research is influenced by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), which suggests that intentions to engage in a behavior, in our case drinking SSBs, are influenced by attitudes, subjective norms (social pressure), and perceived behavioral control [24]. In light of this, our study aimed to assess the implications of the sugar tax on sugar-sweetened beverage consumption habits among rural-based South African university students

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study Design

A cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 342 participants, with an additional 10% to account for attrition. However, only 257 University of Venda (UNIVEN) students reported consuming sugar-sweetened beverages. The study used a quantitative research approach because the information was collected by quantifiable measures. The research was conducted at the University of Venda (UNIVEN), which is a rural-based university in Limpopo province with an enrollment of 14,700. The data was collected by the researcher (a student nutritionist) and qualified nutritionists in October 2022.

2.2. Study Population, Sample Size, and Sampling Procedure

The target population in this study was all UNIVEN students. The accessible population was UNIVEN students who resided on campus. In this study, the inclusion criteria for participants were UNIVEN students residing in a chosen room irrespective of their level of study, age, and gender.

In total, 257 students were selected by simple random sampling from the 2327 students allocated accommodation on campus. Systematic sampling methods were used to select the rooms from which the students were chosen. The researchers first determined the width of the interval by dividing the size of the population by the sample size (2327/342 = 7). Using the SRS technique, from the first interval (one to seven elements), the researchers selected the third element. Every third room was selected for the study. If there was no student in the third room, the researcher moved to the next third room. The sample size was calculated using Slovin’s formula, using a population size of 2327 at twelve residences. The 95% confidence level and acceptable level of error were both set at 0.05. The formula produced 342 participants, with a further 10% added to account for attrition.

2.3. Data Collection

The data was collected in the comfort of the students’ rooms to ensure privacy. The following variables were measured: socio-demographic information, consumption patterns of sugar-sweetened beverages, the student’s knowledge of the sugar tax, and their attitudes toward and perceptions of SSBs.

The socio-demographic characteristics measured age, gender, level of study, marital status, source of income, and income per month. Ten questions with true, false, and don’t know answers were asked to gauge the students’ awareness of the sugar tax. Their knowledge of the sugar tax and their attitudes toward and perceptions of SSBs were measured using a structured questionnaire. To determine which students had knowledge and which did not, the researchers computed the mean, a measure of central tendency. The researchers tallied the student scores and divided the total by the total scores, which was 10. This gave them the mean. A Likert scale was then used to determine whether the students were knowledgeable. A five-point Likert scale with the answers agree, strongly agree, disagree, disagree strongly, and I’m not sure was used to assess the students’ attitudes and perceptions.

2.4. Ethical Considerations

This research received ethical clearance from the University of Venda Research Ethics Committee (FHS/22/NUT/11/1511) and was approved by the Department of Housing at the University of Venda. The study was performed in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of 2008, which ensures good clinical practices, and South African law. Prior to the study, the students received both an oral and a written description of the study, along with a list of any potential risks. Each student signed the consent form.

2.5. Statistical Analysis

The data was entered into Microsoft Excel and exported to IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) latest version 27 for analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize the data in an organized manner by describing the relationship between the variables in a sample or population. The descriptive statistics used was measures of central tendency, which is the value that describes the entire set of data as a single measurement. We conducted a logistic regression analysis to determine the factors associated with high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. A univariate logistic regression model was used to select the possible predictor variables using a threshold of a p-value less than 0.25. A multivariable logistic regression was employed to determine the factors associated with SSB consumption, with a p-value less than 0.05 as the cut-off point for statistical significance. The confidence intervals were reported to indicate where the true estimate lay, and the odds ratios were reported to quantify the relationship between the dependent variable (sugar-sweetened beverage consumption) and the independent variables, such as gender, age group, and level of study.

3. Results

3.1. Socio-Demographic Information of Students

Of all the students, 35% were between the ages of 20 and 22 years, while 33.1% were between the ages of 23 and 25. Most (73.2%) of the students were female as compared to 26.8% male counterparts. In terms of ethnicity, there were roughly 41.6% Venda-speaking students, 20.6% Xitsonga-speaking students, and 16.3% Siswati-speaking students. The students were mostly single. A quarter of the students were enrolled in their third level of study, while 42.8% were in the second level. About 30.7% of the students were from the Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Agriculture, while 33.1% were from the Faculty of Management, Commerce, and Law. Most students’ average monthly income was between R1001 and R2000 (

Table 1. Students’ socio-demographic information (n = 257).

Variable	n	%
Age
17–19	59	23.0
20–22	90	35.0
23–25	85	33.1
26 and above	23	8.9
Gender
Male	69	26.8
Female	188	73.2
Ethnic group
Venda	107	41.6
Tsonga	53	20.6
Sotho	16	6.2
Zulu	18	7.0
Swati	42	16.3
Pedi	21	8.2
Marital status
Married	5	1.9
Single	250	97.3
Divorced/separated	2	0.8
Faculty
Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Agriculture	79	30.7
Faculty of Management, Commerce, and Law	85	33.1
Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education	64	24.9
Faculty of Health Sciences	29	11.3
Level of study
1st level	40	15.6
2nd level	110	42.8
3rd level	65	25.3
4th level	42	16.3
Source of income
Mother	10	3.9
Father	19	7.4
Both parents	6	2.3
Bursary	222	86.4
Income per month
R1000 (50.2 EUR) or less	2	0.8
R1001–R2000 (50.2–100.4 EUR)	230	89.5
R2001–R3000 (100.4–150.6 EUR)	23	8.9
R3001–R4000 (150.6–200.8 EUR)	2	0.8

).

3.2. Consumption Patterns of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

Table 2. Students’ SSB consumption patterns.

Variable	n	%
Consumption of SSBs
Yes	257	100
No	0	0
SSBs you like most
Soft drinks (e.g., Fanta, Coke, Sprite)	154	59.9
Energy/sport drinks (Energade, Powerade)	52	20.2
Soft drinks (less sugar)	14	5.4
Canned fruit drinks with sugar (Cappy, Liqui-Fruit)	37	14.4
SSBs you like least
Soft drinks (e.g., Fanta, Coke, Sprite)	24	9.3
Energy/sport drinks (Energade, Powerade)	100	38.9
Soft drinks (less sugar)	100	38.9
Canned fruit drinks with sugar (Cappy, Liqui-Fruit)	33	12.8
Purchasing SSBs in a week
Every day	14	5.4
1–2 times a week	8	3.1
3–4 times a week	66	25.7
5–6 times a week	169	65.8
Consumption of SSBs per day
1–2 times a day	68	26.5
3–4 times a day	188	73.2
5 or more times a day	1	0.4
Money you spend on SSBs each month
R0–R50	6	2.3
R51–R100	21	8.2
R101–150	27	10.5
R151–R200	97	37.7
More than R200	106	41.2

illustrates the students’ SSB consumption patterns. When the students were asked if they consumed SSBs, all 257 students said that they consumed SSBs. More than half of the students consumed soft drinks, 20.2% drank energy/sports drinks, and only 14.4% had canned fruit drinks with sugar. Nearly three-quarters of the students ingested SSBs three to four times a day, while 0.4% had SSBs five or more times a day. Furthermore, the university students highlighted that the less-liked SSBs were energy/sports drinks. The majority (65.8%) of students purchased SSBs five to six times a week, and very few (3.1%) purchased SSBs one to two times a week. About 41.2% spent more than R200 each month on SSBs, and the smallest group was those spending R51–100 each month on SSBs.

3.3. Association Between SSBs and Socio-Economic Factors

Ethnicity was significantly associated with SSBs (p < 0.05), with the Zulu and Swati students three times (aOR: 2.99) and four times (aOR: 3.99) more likely to consume a high amount of SSBs, respectively, compared to the Venda students. The odds of high SSB consumption were also 6.56 times higher among those who spent R151–R200 compared to those who spent R0–R50 on SSBs per month. The level of study did not influence the consumption of SSBs (

Table 3. Association between SSBs and selected variables.

	Univariate			Multivariate
Variable(s)	OR	95% CI	p-Value	aOR	95% CI	p-Value
Age group
17–19	Ref
20–22	0.81	0.38–1.73	0.601
23–25	0.99	0.47–2.10	0.994
26 and above	1.72	0.62–4.76	0.291
Gender
Male	Ref
Female	0.59	0.32–1.07	0.084
Ethnicity
Venda	Ref
Tsonga	0.94	0.39–2.26	0.903
Sotho	2.10	0.65–6.76	0.211
Zulu	3.70	1.29–10.62	0.015	2.99	1.05–8.51	0.040
Swati	5.60	2.55–12.22	0.000	3.99	1.89–8.43	<0.001
Pedi	1.44	0.47– 4.43	0.518
Level of study
1st level	Ref
2nd level	0.51	0.23–1.14	0.104
3rd level	0.71	0.30–1.65	0.430
4th level	0.83	0.33–2.09	0.697
Money spent/month on SBSS
R0–R50	Ref
R51–R100	0.30	0.50–1.81	0.192
R101–150	1.07	0.18–6.19	0.932
R151–R200	4.75	0.71–31.37	0.106	6.56	2.60–16.52
More than R200	1

CI: confidence interval, OR: odds ratio, aOR: adjusted odds ratio.

).

Table 4. Students’ knowledge of the sugar tax.

Question Asked	Responses	n	%
Defining sugar tax	Sugar tax aims to benefit the government	30	11.7
	Sugar tax aims to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs)	13	5.1
	Sugar tax aims to decrease the prices of sugar-sweetened beverages	40	15.6
	I don’t know	174	67.7
The South African government implemented the Health Promotion Levy on sugary beverages in 2018	True	18	7.0
	False	4	1.6
	I don’t know	235	91.4
Sugar manufacturers are charged a fee of 2.1 cents per gram of sugar per 100 mL	True	2	0.8
	False	13	5.1
	I don’t know	242	94.2
The sugar tax is charged on non-alcoholic sugary beverages, except fruit juices, and practically works out to about 10–11% per liter of the sugary drink	True	65	25.3
	False	15	5.8
	I don’t know	177	68.9
A “less sugar” or “no added sugar” sign on a product suggests that the manufacturer complies with the sugar tax policy	True	17	6.6
	False	41	16.0
	I don’t know	199	77.4
The sugar tax will help to reduce the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure and related diseases	True	22	8.6
	False	128	49.8
	I don’t know	107	41.6
The sugar tax would reduce SSB consumption	True	18	7.0
	False	127	49.4
	I don’t know	112	43.6
The sugar tax has a negative economic impact	True	37	14.4
	False	57	22.2
	I don’t know	163	63.4
The sugar tax would result in the loss of jobs	True	37	14.4
	False	43	16.7
	I don’t know	177	68.9
The sugar tax will encourage producers to reduce sugar in beverages	True	26	10.1
	False	49	19.1
	I don’t know	182	70.8
The sugar tax would save healthcare costs in the future	True	18	7.0
	False	123	47.9
	I don’t know	116	45.1
Total		257	100%

shows the students’ understanding of the sugar tax. Only 5.1% of the students correctly answered that the goal of the sugar tax is to decrease the consumption of SSBs, and the majority of the students (67.7%) did not know what the sugar tax is. Only 7% of the students were aware of the 2018 fee on sugary beverages, while 91.4% of them were unaware of it. The majority of the students claimed they were unaware that sugary beverages now cost 2.1 cents per gram of sugar in every 100 milliliters. More than half of the students were unaware that a sugar tax of roughly 10–11% per liter of a sugary beverage is applied to non-alcoholic sugary beverages, with the exception of fruit juices. Over 35% of students were unaware that the presence of a “less sugar” or “no added sugar” label on a product denotes that its producer complies with the sugar tax policy. Fewer than half of the students were unaware if the sugar tax would assist in lowering the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and related disorders. About 43.6% of the students said they did not know, and a third said a sugar tax would not cut down SSB use.

Other results not presented in a table suggested that only a few students, 26 (10.1%), had awareness of the sugar tax, compared to the majority, 171 (66.5%), who did not. Students at UNIVEN had very little knowledge of the sugar tax.

3.4. Attitude of Students Toward SSBs

To determine how the students felt about SSBs, the researchers created five questions. A five-point Likert scale with the answers agree, strongly agree, disagree, disagree strongly, and I’m not sure was used for the five questions. Very few students (1.6%) strongly agreed with the claim that drinking SSBs can contribute to tooth decay, whereas more than half of the students disagreed. Few students firmly believed that people should limit their usage of SSBs, whereas about 42.4% of the students disagreed. More than 78% of the students disagreed that SSB consumption can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Fewer than half of the students disagreed that SSBs should cost more than non-sugar-containing beverages. When asked if they would still buy SSBs if the price rose to R20 or higher, the students responded with 26.1% strongly disagreeing and 28.4% strongly agreeing (

Table 5. Students’ attitude toward SSBs.

Question Asked	n	%
SSBs can be a cause of tooth decay
Agree	8	3.1
Strongly agree	4	1.6
Disagree	135	52.5
Strongly disagree	14	5.4
I’m not sure	96	37.4
People should limit the consumption of SSBs
Agree	52	20.2
Strongly agree	28	10.9
Disagree	109	42.4
I’m not sure	68	26.5
SSB consumption can be a cause of type 2 diabetes
Agree	2	0.8.
Strongly agree	13	5.1
Disagree	201	78.2
Strongly disagree	23	8.9
I’m not sure	18	7.0
SSBs should be more expensive than beverages without sugar
Agree	54	21.0
Strongly agree	20	7.8
Disagree	112	43.6
Strongly disagree	42	16.3
I’m not sure	29	11.3
If a can of SSBs increases to R20 or more, I will still purchase the drink as I do now
Agree	13	5.1
Strongly agree	73	28.4
Disagree	60	23.3
Strongly disagree	67	26.1
I’m not sure	43	16.7

).

3.5. Interpretation of the Results on the Attitude of Students Toward SSBs

The measure of central tendency that the researchers calculated was the mean. The total number of student scores was added by the researchers, who then divided it by the total number of scores, which was five. A few of the students had a good attitude (agreed) regarding SSBs, compared to roughly 48% who had a negative attitude (disagree) (

Table 6. Likert scale evaluating the attitude of UNIVEN students toward SSBs.

Five-Point Lickert Scale	Mean Score Interval for Attitude	Interpretation of Results
Strongly agree	28	Very high positive attitude
Agree	26	High positive attitude
I’m not sure	51	Neutral
Disagree	29	High negative attitude
Strongly disagree	123	Very high negative attitude
Total	n = 257

Chyung et al. (2017) [25].

).

3.6. Perception of Students Toward SSBs

Five questions were posed with the response options agree, strongly agree, disagree, disagree, and I’m not sure in order to gauge how the students felt about SSBs. The students were required to choose from one of these five options on a five-point Likert scale in response to each question. The students were questioned about whether regularly consuming SSBs could cause them to look older than their actual age. Quite a high number (61.1%) of the students strongly disagreed, while only 2.7% of the remaining students agreed. Fewer than half (33.9%) of the students agreed that SSB consumption makes you feel full for longer hours, while few students disagreed. More than half of the students (51.8%) disagreed, and only a few strongly disagreed, that SSB consumption causes overweight and obesity (

Table 7. Students’ perception toward SSBs.

Question Asked	n	%
Regular SSB consumption will make you look older than your age
Agree	7	2.7
Strongly agree	82	31.9
Strongly disagree	157	61.1
I’m not sure	11	4.3
SSB consumption makes you feel full for longer hours
Agree	87	33.9
Strongly agree	4	1.6
Disagree	1	0.4
Strongly disagree	84	32.7
I’m not sure	81	31.5
SSB consumption causes overweight and obesity
Agree	20	7.8
Strongly agree	22	8.6
Disagree	133	51.8
Strongly disagree	8	3.1
I’m not sure	74	28.8
SSB consumption increases the risk of heart diseases
Agree	13	5.1
Strongly agree	6	2.3
Disagree	201	78.2
Strongly disagree	8	3.1
I’m not sure	29	11.3
SSB consumption increases the risk of hypertension
Agree	36	14.0
Strongly agree	18	7.0
Disagree	184	71.6
Strongly disagree	6	2.3
I’m not sure	13	5.1

).

3.7. Interpretation of the Results on Perceptions of Students Toward SSBs

The measure of central tendency that the researchers calculated was the mean. The researchers totaled all the student scores before dividing the total by the five total scores. About 40% of the students had negative perceptions about SSBs, while only a small percentage (10.3%) had a good perception (

Table 8. Likert scale evaluating the perception of UNIVEN students toward SSBs.

Five-Point Lickert Scale	Mean Score Interval	Interpretation of the Results
Strongly agree	26	Very good perception
Agree	33	Good perception
I’m not sure	42	Neutral
Disagree	53	Bad perception
Strongly disagree	103	Very Bad perception
Total	n = 257

Chyung et al. [25].

).

4. Discussion

The most consumed sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in the rural University of Venda in the Limpopo region of South Africa are soft drinks. The high income and lack of knowledge on the consequences of consuming these beverages could be the reason why most of the students drank them daily. The environment in South Africa has obviously changed during the last decades, and opportunities to consume SBBs are omnipresent [26]. Today, these SSBs are found at most intersections in every town around Limpopo province. These beverages are normally served with meals sold at fast food outlets. This finding is consistent with those of investigations conducted in South Africa [27,28,29,30] and Saudi Arabia [7]. All reported soft drinks as the favorite SBBs, consumed once or more per day, three or more times per week. The consumption of SBBs may be enhanced by the fact that they are cost-effective. The increased consumption of SBBs every day coupled with a lack of physical activity can lead to increased calories, resulting in weight gain [31,32] and other health conditions [10,11]. Our findings suggest that ethnicity and monthly allowance were associated with a high consumption of SSBs. South Africa has introduced some SSB nudges to reduce consumption, like reducing the size of drinks, increasing the price, and in some stores having the SSB drinks in an isolated aisle. However, these nudges seem not to have borne fruit, as one could assume that there would be less consumption of SSBs given the sugar tax and other interventions. Some studies have showed that the rearranging of beverages by placing the healthier beverages at eye level had a positive effect on sales of the healthier beverages [24,33].

Knowledge is the driving force for changing behaviors, and good knowledge can encourage people to take corrective action [34,35]. Since the students attended a high-level educational institution where learning occurs on a regular basis, one would anticipate that they would be familiar with the sugar tax and have a favorable attitude toward SSBs. The findings of the study suggest that the University of Venda students lacked knowledge on the sugar tax. This was despite extensive media campaigns in support of and against the tax, as well as news articles written about the Health Promotion Levy [28]. The results are in line with those from Polish researchers [36] and South African researchers [19], who found that consumers were unaware of the sugar tax. A lack of awareness of the risks associated with consuming these beverages may be the cause of the students’ high consumption, which can lead to weight gain and, since they contain extra calories, contribute to the prevalence of obesity and overweight. With the aid of appropriate knowledge assistance, students can make better dietary selections by comprehending the sugar tax and the impacts of consuming SSBs [37]. Therefore, it is essential to educate students about the sugar tax and the risks associated with SSBs.

A positive attitude can help increase knowledge and correct improper behavior. A good attitude is the cornerstone of good behavior [35]. A good attitude plays a vital role in shaping behavior regarding SSB consumption. By fostering awareness, self-discipline, and healthier habits, individuals can make better choices that support their long-term well-being. However, most of the students in the current study had negative attitudes and perceptions toward the taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), despite research showing that such a tax can reduce consumption and generate funds for obesity prevention and health education. In this study, negative perception refers to the fact that most of the students viewed the tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) unfavorably, leading them to perceive it as ineffective. This negative attitude suggests that it would be challenging to persuade them to alter their SSB intake habits. Zhang et al. [34] demonstrated that customers in countries with sugar taxes in place exhibited either a positive or a negative attitude. A negative attitude and perception toward SSBs may have a detrimental effect on curbing the ever-increasing prevalence of overweight, obesity, and related diseases that can be a result of the high consumption of SSBs. The findings are in line with a study by [28], who found that participants had negative attitudes and perceptions toward the sugar tax and SSBs. Therefore, this study leans more toward the economic theory of food behavior as opposed to the TPB, because students spending more on SSBs had a high monthly allowance.

5. Strengths and Limitations of the Study

Nonetheless, this study provides proof of the impact of ignorance on SSB use, which may lead to an increase in the prevalence of obesity among college students. Lack of knowledge may reflect poor practice. Despite these limitations, the research findings add to the body of literature that addresses the issue of lack of knowledge of the sugar tax and negative attitudes and perceptions toward SSBs in rural Sub-Saharan Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regions. A limitation of the present study is that this study focused only on the University of Venda and may not reflect general practices in the universities of South Africa. Future research will attempt a nudge intervention strategy to determine if change can occur over a period of time.

6. Conclusions

The high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages at the University of Venda in South Africa is of significant concern. A lack of knowledge about the sugar tax may be the main reason why students showed high consumption of these beverages, and this may, in turn, result in a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in these university students. The South African government should provide a stronger emphasis on the adverse effects of consuming these SSBs in order to enhance optimal health. A large-scale research study that can look at various target populations to ascertain the magnitude of this problem is essential. Policymakers should provide awareness before the implementation of important policies.