Band-aid solutions

Small business owners’ perspectives on a sugar-sweetened beverage tax in Manitoba

Authors

  • Fareeha Quayyum University of New Brunswick
  • Andrea Bombak University of New Brunswick
  • Emma Robinson University of New Brunswick
  • Kelsey Mann University of Manitoba
  • Krista Beck University of Manitoba
  • Jeff LaPlante National Indigenous Diabetes Association
  • Michael Champagne Fearless R2W
  • Myra Tait Athabasca University
  • Riel Dubois Fearless r2w
  • Natalie Riediger

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15353/cfs-rcea.v10i1.554

Keywords:

sugar-sweetened beverages, taxation, small business, Manitoba, health policy

Abstract

This qualitative study explores perceptions of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxation among small business owners/managers (n=7) in Manitoba, Canada through thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews. Most participants believed the tax would be ineffective; they predicted the majority of customers would continue consuming SSB. Main concerns about the tax’s effectiveness were that it fails to address root causes of high sugar consumption and is easy for many consumers to ignore. Participants called for the government to focus on other community issues, citing changes to the healthcare system and financially assisting vulnerable community members as more pressing matters than SSB consumption.

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Published

2023-03-13

How to Cite

Quayyum, F., Bombak, A., Robinson, E., Mann, K., Beck, K., LaPlante, J., … Riediger, N. (2023). Band-aid solutions: Small business owners’ perspectives on a sugar-sweetened beverage tax in Manitoba. Canadian Food Studies La Revue Canadienne Des études Sur l’alimentation, 10(1), 130–150. https://doi.org/10.15353/cfs-rcea.v10i1.554