Table 2 Psychological constructs measured in the present study

Risk Perception

Expressed beliefs about potential health harms of consuming SSBs*

Question: To the best of your knowledge, does consumption of sugary drinks increase the suffering from…?

Categorical

1: Not at all

2: A little

3: Somewhat

4: A lot

5: Not sure (coded missing)

Q1: Diabetes

Q2: Blood Pressure

Q3: Obesity

Q4: Cavities

Knowledge

Ability to correctly identify sugary beverages from a list

Question: Is the following beverage sugary?

Categorical

1: Not sugary

2: Somewhat sugary

3: Sugary

4: Do not know (coded missing)

Q1: Flavored bottled water

Q2: 100% fruit juice

Q3: Nectars or canned juice that contain fruit (e.g. Tropicana)

Q4: Milk (sweetened and flavored) (e.g. Nesquick, Steristumpie)

Q5: Soda or soft drinks (e.g. Coca-Cola, Sprite, ginger beer)

Q6: Sweetened Iced tea (BOS, Lipton ice tea, Fuze)

Q7: Coffee/tea with sugar (including cappuccino, frapuccino)

Q8: Energy drinks (Red Bull, Monster, Dragon)

Q9: Sports drinks (e.g. Energade, Powerade, Lucozade)

Q10: Powdered drinks (e.g. Game)

Q11: Cordials and concentrates (e.g. Oros)

Tax Awareness

Aware of the South African SSB* tax

Question: “Are you aware of the new Health Promotion Levy (also

called Sugary Beverage Tax)?”

Binary

(yes/no)

Intention to reduce SSBs*

Expressed an intention to reduce SSB* consumption as a result of the tax

Question: “The Government has approved a new tax on sugary sweetened beverages which will come into effect on 1 April 2018. If this tax will result in an increase in price of about R2 for 2 liters of sugary beverages, how likely will it have the following effect on your purchasing intentions?” Response: “I will cut back on my sweetened beverage consumption (yes/no)”

Binary

(yes/no)