Impact and acceptance of a state‐wide policy to remove sugar‐sweetened beverages in hospitals in New South Wales, Australia

Leonie Cranney · Bradley Drayton · Margaret Mary Thomas · Beatrice Tang · Tarli O’Connell · Michelle Crino +4 more

13 citations0/0 files storedHealth Promotion Journal of Australia

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Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet

Abstract

Abstract Issue addressed Policy and environmental approaches can reduce the accessibility and purchasing of sugar‐sweetened beverages (SSBs), potentially reducing overweight and obesity. This study examined the impact of a state‐wide policy on removal of SSBs from sale in NSW public hospitals (launched July 2017), and explored consumer awareness and support. Methods A convenience sample of 81 food outlets in 26 hospitals were audited for SSB availability before and after the target date for SSB removal (31 December 2017). An interviewer‐administered intercept survey in 10 randomly selected hospitals (March‐May 2018), assessed staff and visitors’ awareness of and support for SSB removal. Descriptive and χ2 analyses assessed differences in: SSB availability; staff and visitor awareness and support. Open‐ended survey responses were thematically analysed. Results The proportion of outlets that removed SSBs increased from 58.0% to 96.3% (P < .001). The majority (79.5%) of the 2394 surveyed supported SSB removal, with nearly half (48.4%) reporting it would improve people's health. A minority (13.4%) did not support SSB removal, more than half (61.4%) of those said individuals should have free choice. More staff than visitors were aware of the change (61.9% vs 31.2%; P < .0001). Conclusions Availability of SSBs in NSW hospitals was significantly reduced after implementation of a policy to remove them from sale. There was strong staff and visitor support for the initiative. So what? This study provides clear evidence that a policy designed to provide a healthy hospital retail drink environment can be successfully implemented at scale with high levels of support from staff and visitors. Summary A state‐wide policy initiative to remove SSBs from sale in NSW hospital food outlets in 2017 was successfully implemented, with a sample of outlets having nearly 100% compliance. The majority of staff and visitors (80%) supported the removal of SSBs, mostly because they believed it would improve individual and population health.

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References

2009Physical Activity and Food Environments: Solutions to the Obesity Epidemic 2013Public acceptability of government intervention to change health-related behaviours: a systematic review and narrative synthesis 2014What is the public appetite for healthy eating policies? Evidence from a cross-European survey 2011Advanced policy options to regulate sugar-sweetened beverages to support public health 2014Ethics and Obesity Prevention: Ethical Considerations in 3 Approaches to Reducing Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages 2011Trends in purchasing patterns of sugar‐sweetened water‐based beverages in a remote Aboriginal community store following the implementation of a community‐developed store nutrition policy 2015Searching for Public Health Law’s Sweet Spot: The Regulation of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages 2017‘The university should promote health, but not enforce it’: opinions and attitudes about the regulation of sugar-sweetened beverages in a university setting

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