Exploring Consumer Behaviour towards Zero- Sugar Beverages: A Case Study of Delhi NCR
52 / 32
Keywords:
Consumer behaviour, factor analysis, chi-square test, zero sugar beverages, perceptionAbstract
In recent years, rising consumer health consciousness has led to a significant shift in beverage consumption patterns, especially in urban areas like Delhi National Capital Region (NCR). This research aims to understand consumer behaviour towards zero-sugar beverages in the Delhi NCR. A structured survey of 320 respondents across different age groups, income levels, and health profiles was conducted using a structured questionnaire in 2025 through multistage sampling. Factor analysis was employed as a statistical tool to analyze consumer behaviour and perception towards zero-sugar beverages. A chi-square test was used to examine the relationship between customers' awareness of zero-sugar beverages and their level of education. In the findings, two significant factors had arisen: one concerned consumers influenced by health fears and mistrust; the other was health-conscious or positive consumers, motivated by fitness, health, and informed choices. According to the study, respondents who were highly concerned about their health and concerned about labels preferred sugar-free beverages. There was considerable dissent about the deception that sugar-free beverages are solely for persons with diabetes. The study's overall conclusions indicate that the sugar-free beverage industry in Delhi NCR is still relatively nascent but has a lot of potential.
References
Coşkun, F., & Kayışoğlu, S. (2018). The effect of education level on the food label reading habits Eğitim düzeyinin besin etiketi okuma alışkanlıkları üzerine etkisi. Journal of New Results in Science, 15(1), 486–498. https://doi.org/10.14687/JHS.V15I1.4840
Du, M., Tugendhaft, A., Erzse, A., & Hofman, K. J. (2018). Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes: industry response and tactics. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 91(2), 185.
Fitch, C., & Keim, K. S. (2012). Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Use of nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 112(5), 739–758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2012.03.009
Gardner, C., Wylie-Rosett, J., Gidding, S. S., Steffen, L. M., Johnson, R. K., Reader, D., & Lichtenstein, A. H. (2012). Nonnutritive sweeteners: current use and health perspectives: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association. Circulation, 126(4), 509-519. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc12-9002
Gupta, A., Billich, N., George, N. A., Blake, M. R., Huse, O., Backholer, K., Boelsen-Robinson, T., & Peeters, A. (2021). The effect of front-of-package labels or point-of-sale signage on consumer knowledge, attitudes and behavior regarding sugar-sweetened beverages: a systematic review. Nutrition Reviews, 79(10), 1165–1181. https://doi.org/10.1093/NUTRIT/NUAA107
International Food Information Council. (2022). Consumer Perceptions of Low-Calorie Sweeteners and Sugar Alternatives. Retrieved from https://foodinsight.org
Jensen, J. D., Mielby, L. A., & Kidmose, U. (2024). Consumer preferences for attributes in sweet beverages and market impacts of beverage innovation. Appetite, 197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2024.107329
Kumar, A., & Saxena, S. P. (2024). Farmers’ awareness and perception about climate change in the Indo-Gangetic plain region of India. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 60(4), 101-106. https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2024.60418
Maiti, M., & Saha, T. (2022). Consumers’ awareness and opinion towards food adulteration in selected areas of west Bengal. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 58(3), 104-107. http://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2022.58322
Malik, V. S., & Hu, F. B. (2022). The role of sugar-sweetened beverages in the global epidemics of obesity and chronic diseases. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 18(4), 205-218. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-021-00627-6
Miller, C., Ettridge, K., Pettigrew, S., Wittert, G., Wakefield, M., Coveney, J., ... & Dono, J. (2022). Warning labels and interpretive nutrition labels: Impact on substitution between sugar and artificially sweetened beverages, juice and water in a real-world selection task. Appetite, 169, 105818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105818
Sajeev, M. V., Ramesha, T. J., Chethan, N., & Gopika, R. (2023). Factors influencing fish purchase and consumption behaviour of Koraga and Soliga tribes, Karnataka, India. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 59(4), 86-90. http://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2023.59418
Sylvetsky, A. C., & Rother, K. I. (2018). Nonnutritive sweeteners in children: Consumption trends, health implications, and research needs. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care, 21(4), 364–370. https://doi.org/10.1097/MCO.0000000000000480
World Health Organization. (2015). Guideline: Sugars intake for adults and children. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549028
Yadav, E., Goyal, M., Ghalawat, S., Agarwal, S., & Girdhar, A. (2024). Consumer perception and awareness towards organic food in national capital region. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 60(2), 56-60. https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2024.60211
Downloads
Submitted
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Indian Society of Extension Education, Division of Agricultural ExtensionICAR- IARI, New Delhi

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
- The manuscripts once accepted and published in the Indian Journal of Extension Education will automatically become the property of the Indian Society of Extension Education, New Delhi. The Chief Editor on behalf of the Indian Journal of Extension Education holds the copyright.