‘Choice should be made through… educated decisions not regressive dictates’: discursive framings of a proposed ‘sugar tax’ in Bermuda: analysis of submissions to a government consultation
Abstract Background Several governments have introduced taxes on products with high sugar content as part of their obesity prevention strategies. Bermuda is the first jurisdiction to apply such measures in the Caribbean – a region of small island developing states and territories with high obesity p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Globalization and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-022-00877-7 |
| _version_ | 1828140502468263936 |
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| author | Sarah Williams Sarah E. Hill Oyinlola Oyebode |
| author_facet | Sarah Williams Sarah E. Hill Oyinlola Oyebode |
| author_sort | Sarah Williams |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Several governments have introduced taxes on products with high sugar content as part of their obesity prevention strategies. Bermuda is the first jurisdiction to apply such measures in the Caribbean – a region of small island developing states and territories with high obesity prevalence and substantial reliance on imported food products. This study examines how commercial and health actors framed the proposed introduction of a 75% import tariff on high-sugar products, based on written submissions to the Bermudan government. Methods Eleven submissions containing written comments were analysed with reference to their framing of the proposed import tariff, the ‘problem’ of obesity, and the relationship between the two (including alternative policy approaches for tackling obesity). Results Key emergent frames were complexity, partnership, products, personal responsibility, affordability and evidence. Respondents favoured different framings, depending on whether they supported or opposed the proposed import duty. Commercial actors were universally opposed, presenting obesity as a ‘complex’ problem that would be better addressed through government-industry partnerships (a framing particularly favoured by international and regional business associations). Increased product range and an emphasis on personal responsibility were also positioned as policy alternatives. Health actors expressed partial support for the proposed sugar tax, although this was tempered by a perceived lack of evidence where the proposal differed from sugar taxes introduced elsewhere. Like commercial respondents, health actors framed obesity as a ‘complex’ problem and emphasised the need for other measures, including efforts to address the affordability of fruits and vegetables. Conclusion In responding to a proposed ‘sugar tax’ in Bermuda, commercial actors opposed the proposal and stated a clear preference for ‘partnership’ approaches to tackling obesity. Commercial responses were dominated by local businesses (with only two responses received from international or regional business associations), perhaps reflecting Bermuda’s reliance on tourism and hospitality and the specificity of the proposed intervention (that is, an import tariff rather than an excise tax). The much smaller number of responses from health actors suggests limited civil society capacity. Nevertheless, the Bermudan government successfully introduced a 75% tariff on high-sugar imports, demonstrating the potential for policy innovation to address obesity in small-island jurisdictions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T19:10:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3bbd7ee7de45495e84a8c3e32870446d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1744-8603 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T19:10:34Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Globalization and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-3bbd7ee7de45495e84a8c3e32870446d2022-12-22T04:07:38ZengBMCGlobalization and Health1744-86032022-10-0118111010.1186/s12992-022-00877-7‘Choice should be made through… educated decisions not regressive dictates’: discursive framings of a proposed ‘sugar tax’ in Bermuda: analysis of submissions to a government consultationSarah Williams0Sarah E. Hill1Oyinlola Oyebode2Warwick Medical School, University of WarwickSPECTRUM research consortium (Shaping Public Health Policies to Reduce Inequalities and Harm), University of EdinburghWarwick Medical School, University of WarwickAbstract Background Several governments have introduced taxes on products with high sugar content as part of their obesity prevention strategies. Bermuda is the first jurisdiction to apply such measures in the Caribbean – a region of small island developing states and territories with high obesity prevalence and substantial reliance on imported food products. This study examines how commercial and health actors framed the proposed introduction of a 75% import tariff on high-sugar products, based on written submissions to the Bermudan government. Methods Eleven submissions containing written comments were analysed with reference to their framing of the proposed import tariff, the ‘problem’ of obesity, and the relationship between the two (including alternative policy approaches for tackling obesity). Results Key emergent frames were complexity, partnership, products, personal responsibility, affordability and evidence. Respondents favoured different framings, depending on whether they supported or opposed the proposed import duty. Commercial actors were universally opposed, presenting obesity as a ‘complex’ problem that would be better addressed through government-industry partnerships (a framing particularly favoured by international and regional business associations). Increased product range and an emphasis on personal responsibility were also positioned as policy alternatives. Health actors expressed partial support for the proposed sugar tax, although this was tempered by a perceived lack of evidence where the proposal differed from sugar taxes introduced elsewhere. Like commercial respondents, health actors framed obesity as a ‘complex’ problem and emphasised the need for other measures, including efforts to address the affordability of fruits and vegetables. Conclusion In responding to a proposed ‘sugar tax’ in Bermuda, commercial actors opposed the proposal and stated a clear preference for ‘partnership’ approaches to tackling obesity. Commercial responses were dominated by local businesses (with only two responses received from international or regional business associations), perhaps reflecting Bermuda’s reliance on tourism and hospitality and the specificity of the proposed intervention (that is, an import tariff rather than an excise tax). The much smaller number of responses from health actors suggests limited civil society capacity. Nevertheless, the Bermudan government successfully introduced a 75% tariff on high-sugar imports, demonstrating the potential for policy innovation to address obesity in small-island jurisdictions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-022-00877-7Commercial determinants of healthSugar taxTaxationFood policyGlobal health governanceSmall island states |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Williams Sarah E. Hill Oyinlola Oyebode ‘Choice should be made through… educated decisions not regressive dictates’: discursive framings of a proposed ‘sugar tax’ in Bermuda: analysis of submissions to a government consultation Globalization and Health Commercial determinants of health Sugar tax Taxation Food policy Global health governance Small island states |
| title | ‘Choice should be made through… educated decisions not regressive dictates’: discursive framings of a proposed ‘sugar tax’ in Bermuda: analysis of submissions to a government consultation |
| title_full | ‘Choice should be made through… educated decisions not regressive dictates’: discursive framings of a proposed ‘sugar tax’ in Bermuda: analysis of submissions to a government consultation |
| title_fullStr | ‘Choice should be made through… educated decisions not regressive dictates’: discursive framings of a proposed ‘sugar tax’ in Bermuda: analysis of submissions to a government consultation |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘Choice should be made through… educated decisions not regressive dictates’: discursive framings of a proposed ‘sugar tax’ in Bermuda: analysis of submissions to a government consultation |
| title_short | ‘Choice should be made through… educated decisions not regressive dictates’: discursive framings of a proposed ‘sugar tax’ in Bermuda: analysis of submissions to a government consultation |
| title_sort | choice should be made through educated decisions not regressive dictates discursive framings of a proposed sugar tax in bermuda analysis of submissions to a government consultation |
| topic | Commercial determinants of health Sugar tax Taxation Food policy Global health governance Small island states |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-022-00877-7 |
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