Sugar-sweetened Beverage Purchases and Intake at Event Arenas with and without a Portion Size Cap

This is the first real-world study to examine the association between a voluntary 16-ounce (oz.) portion-size cap on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) at a sporting arena on volume of SSBs and food calories purchased and consumed during basketball games. Cross-sectional survey data from adults exiting a Brooklyn, NY arena (Barclays, n=464) with a 16-oz. portion-size restriction and a Manhattan, NY arena with no portion-size restriction (Madison Square Garden, control, n=295) after the portion cap policy was put in place from March through June 2014 were analyzed. Data were analyzed using linear regression models and adjusting for sex, age, BMI, ethnicity, race, marital status, education, and income to compare the two arenas during the post-implementation period. Response rate was 45.9% and equivalent between venues. Among SSB consumers (n=140), compared to MSG customers, the portion-size cap at Barclays was associated with customers’ purchasing -2.24 fewer beverage oz. (95% CI = -4.19, -.29, p=.024) and purchasing and consuming -11.03 (95% CI= 17.21, -4.86, p<.001) and -12.10 (95% CI= -18.42, -5.78, p<.001) fewer SSB oz. There were no differences between arenas in food calories and event satisfaction. In addition, no one reported not ordering a drink due to small size. An SSB portion-size cap was associated with purchasing and consuming fewer SSB oz. without evidence of substitution to other foods or decreasing satisfaction with the event experience.