Using Nudge Strategies to Promote Healthier Beverage Intake Among College Students

The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether three nudging interventions would affect the beverage selection and consumption behaviors of Chinese university students. These interventions encompass providing information on the sugar content of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), disseminating harmful information about SSBs, and showcasing the social norm that the majority of students opt for mineral water. Through a single-factor between-subjects experiment, we aim to examine the impact of these nudge interventions on the proportion of students choosing sugary drinks versus mineral water, thereby assessing their effectiveness in guiding healthier beverage choices.