Socioeconomic determinants and awareness of excise tax on soft drinks in relation to nutritional status among adults in Al-Ahsa Province, Saudi Arabia
- 1Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Hofuf
- 2Department of Agribusiness and Consumer Sciences, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Hofuf
Abstract
Background: Soft drinks are a major contributor to overweight, obesity, and non-communicable diseases. In response, Saudi Arabia introduced an excise tax on soft drinks in 2017. However, evidence regarding public awareness of this tax and its association with socioeconomic factors, consumption behaviors, and nutritional status remains limited.
Aim: This study aimed to examine the association between socioeconomic determinants and awareness of the excise tax on soft drinks in relation to nutritional status among adults in Al-Ahsa Province, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and March 2023 among adults aged 18–45 years in Al-Ahsa Governorate. Data were collected using a validated electronic questionnaire covering socioeconomic characteristics, soft drink consumption, excise tax awareness, and anthropometric measures. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using self-reported height and weight. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, independent t -tests, ANOVA, and Spearman correlation coefficients.
Results: A total of 370 participants were included. More than half of respondents (52.7%) were unaware of the excise tax on soft drinks, and 64.9% lacked knowledge of its underlying health rationale. Tax awareness was significantly associated with education level ( p = 0.02), additional income ( p = 0.02), gender ( p = 0.01), and age ( p < 0.10). While tax awareness was not significantly associated with current soft drink consumption, higher awareness was significantly correlated with reduced soft drink intake ( r = 0.213, p < 0.01), increased consumption of alternative beverages ( r = 0.117, p = 0.02), and BMI classification ( p = 0.02). However, the finding of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) found the association between awareness of selective excise taxes and BMI was insignificant ( p = 0.86) adjusted for selected demographic, social, and economic variables. This implies that awareness of the excise tax is not related to BMI in the context of controlling demographic and socioeconomic variables for this population.
Conclusion: Awareness of the excise tax on soft drinks varies across socioeconomic groups and is positively associated with healthier beverage choices. However, after controlling demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, awareness of the excise tax was not significantly associated with BMI in this population. Thus, enhancing public awareness and education about the purpose and health benefits of the excise tax may strengthen its effectiveness as a public health intervention in Saudi Arabia.
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BibTeX
@article{alqurashi2026socioeconomic,
title = {{Socioeconomic determinants and awareness of excise tax on soft drinks in relation to nutritional status among adults in Al-Ahsa Province, Saudi Arabia}},
author = {Randah M. Alqurashi and Kawthar A. Alanezi and Samar M. Abdalla},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1830296},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1830296/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Socioeconomic determinants and awareness of excise tax on soft drinks in relation to nutritional status among adults in Al-Ahsa Province, Saudi Arabia
AU - Randah M. Alqurashi
AU - Kawthar A. Alanezi
AU - Samar M. Abdalla
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1830296
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1830296/full
AB - Background: Soft drinks are a major contributor to overweight, obesity, and non-communicable diseases. In response, Saudi Arabia introduced an excise tax on soft drinks in 2017. However, evidence regarding public awareness of this tax and its association with socioeconomic factors, consumption behaviors, and nutritional status remains limited. Aim: This study aimed to examine the association between socioeconomic determinants and awareness of the excise tax on soft drinks in relation to nutritional status among adults in Al-Ahsa Province, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and March 2023 among adults aged 18–45 years in Al-Ahsa Governorate. Data were collected using a validated electronic questionnaire covering socioeconomic characteristics, soft drink consumption, excise tax awareness, and anthropometric measures. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using self-reported height and weight. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, independent t -tests, ANOVA, and Spearman correlation coefficients. Results: A total of 370 participants were included. More than half of respondents (52.7%) were unaware of the excise tax on soft drinks, and 64.9% lacked knowledge of its underlying health rationale. Tax awareness was significantly associated with education level ( p = 0.02), additional income ( p = 0.02), gender ( p = 0.01), and age ( p < 0.10). While tax awareness was not significantly associated with current soft drink consumption, higher awareness was significantly correlated with reduced soft drink intake ( r = 0.213, p < 0.01), increased consumption of alternative beverages ( r = 0.117, p = 0.02), and BMI classification ( p = 0.02). However, the finding of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) found the association between awareness of selective excise taxes and BMI was insignificant ( p = 0.86) adjusted for selected demographic, social, and economic variables. This implies that awareness of the excise tax is not related to BMI in the context of controlling demographic and socioeconomic variables for this population. Conclusion: Awareness of the excise tax on soft drinks varies across socioeconomic groups and is positively associated with healthier beverage choices. However, after controlling demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, awareness of the excise tax was not significantly associated with BMI in this population. Thus, enhancing public awareness and education about the purpose and health benefits of the excise tax may strengthen its effectiveness as a public health intervention in Saudi Arabia.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -