title: Regulating the way to obesity: unintended consequences of limiting sugary drink sizes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined whether a sugary drink limit would still be effective if larger-sized drinks were converted into bundles of smaller-sized drinks.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our 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.
authors.affiliation: University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America. b6wilson@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Brent M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stolarz-Fantino
authors.forename: Edmund
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fantino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001628:Beverages; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates