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Article

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

by
Zelda Luvha
1,
Vhuhwavho Tshipota
1,
Selekane Ananias Motadi
1,
Lavhelesani Negondeni
2 and
Hlekani Vanessa Mbhatsani
1,*
1
Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa
2
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Dietetics 2025, 4(3), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/dietetics4030027
Submission received: 24 January 2025 / Revised: 23 May 2025 / Accepted: 23 June 2025 / Published: 1 July 2025
(This article belongs to the Topic Personalized and Sustainable Nutrition for Children and Adolescents: An Important Step for the 2030 Agenda)
Versions Notes

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.
Keywords: awareness; students; sugar tax; SSBs; purchase awareness; students; sugar tax; SSBs; purchase

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MDPI and ACS Style

Luvha, Z.; Tshipota, V.; Motadi, S.A.; Negondeni, L.; Mbhatsani, H.V. The Implications of the Sugar Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Habits Among Rural-Based South African University Students. Dietetics 2025, 4, 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/dietetics4030027

AMA Style

Luvha Z, Tshipota V, Motadi SA, Negondeni L, Mbhatsani HV. The Implications of the Sugar Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Habits Among Rural-Based South African University Students. Dietetics. 2025; 4(3):27. https://doi.org/10.3390/dietetics4030027

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luvha, Zelda, Vhuhwavho Tshipota, Selekane Ananias Motadi, Lavhelesani Negondeni, and Hlekani Vanessa Mbhatsani. 2025. "The Implications of the Sugar Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Habits Among Rural-Based South African University Students" Dietetics 4, no. 3: 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/dietetics4030027

APA Style

Luvha, Z., Tshipota, V., Motadi, S. A., Negondeni, L., & Mbhatsani, H. V. (2025). The Implications of the Sugar Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Habits Among Rural-Based South African University Students. Dietetics, 4(3), 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/dietetics4030027

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