• Brent M Wilson, Stephanie Stolarz-Fantino, and Edmund Fantino.
• University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America. b6wilson@ucsd.edu
• Plos One. 2013 Jan 1;8(4):e61081.

ObjectivesWe examined whether a sugary drink limit would still be effective if larger-sized drinks were converted into bundles of smaller-sized drinks.MethodsIn a behavioral simulation, participants were offered varying food and drink menus. One menu offered 16 oz, 24 oz, or 32 oz drinks for sale. A second menu offered 16 oz drinks, a bundle of two 12 oz drinks, or a bundle of two 16 oz drinks. A third menu offered only 16 oz drinks for sale. The method involved repeated elicitation of choices, and the instructions did not mention a limit on drink size.ResultsParticipants bought significantly more ounces of soda with bundles than with varying-sized drinks. Total business revenue was also higher when bundles rather than only small-sized drinks were sold.ConclusionsOur research suggests that businesses have a strong incentive to offer bundles of soda when drink size is limited. Restricting larger-sized drinks may have the unintended consequence of increasing soda consumption rather than decreasing it.

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