Occupational Medicine & Health Affairs
Open Access

Soft drinks are a part of our life wherever we go soft drinks available. Soft drinks have many health problems. Soft drinks has far more serious health issues are turned into many type of diseases  such as Obesity,  Diabetes, body weight, heart disease, stomach  problem, cancer, liver damage, infertility, bone health, teeth disorders among children and aged persons. mainly, soft drink created many problems in today’s children and youngsters lives due to these diseases like, sugar, kidney failures, Metabolism level decreases, Obesity, bone damage and reproduction problems but a recent study showed that these soft drinks affects our brain functions. It also affects the whole body system of all ages of people. Especially it affects the women menstrual circle system, reproductive system, circulatory system, diabetes; simply it affects all the body structures. A menstrual cycle that’s too long (35 days or more) is the main cause of Infertility in women because of soda drinks and junk food. Numerous studies have shown the negative health effects of drinking soda on your waist line and your teeth [1].

Mosab Nouraldein Mohammed Hamad (2019) conducted a study on Harmful Effects of Soft Drinks. He said soft drink and its effects on human health is the most visible and important issue for discussion in today’s world. Media have directly affected the Youth and children. Media has become one of the trendiest sources of communication. He also claimed that Extensive and attractive use of advertisements of different soft drinks brands and inadequate awareness toward its hazardous effects on community health. He said people faced Renal and heart diseases and dental problems represent a larger population. Because of low income, More than 70% people of Sudanese cannot afford their treatment in well-established hospitals with well-equipped laboratories and modern radiological diagnostic method s which is usually not in all districts of the country. We need policy implementation for all type of soft drink brands. Because of strong policy implementation we will save the soul of a lot of children, young and elder people from being dead by excessive drinking those harmful slow killer drinks Sudanese local natural drinks are very healthy, cheap and easy to obtain in contrast to soft drinks which are costly and harmful [2].

Large amounts of sugar, artificial sweetener, and food colors in soft drinks are turned into obesity and increase chances of diabetes. Soft drinks have a higher risk of cancer disease and liver damage problem. Overall, in soft drinks the sugar content is high which a problem towards diabetes is. The biggest issue with soft drinks is that each one includes some type of acid that is bad for our stomach and teeth [3]. Recently Punjab Food Authority is banning of the soft drink in educational institutions of Pakistan. It is a universally approved fact that soft drinks are extremely harmful for every person; especially children of growing age. The Punjab Food Authority took the action to ban the drinks because it claims that “carbonated drinks are injurious to health, affecting the physical growth of children”. Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) Civil Hospital, Head Dr Adeeb Rizvi suggested that “instead of soft drinks, it is better to use fresh juices because fizzy drinks can be a cause of some health hazards including, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, dehydration, renal problems and even cancer” [4].

“The Punjab Food Authority’s recent move to ban the sale of carbonated beverages in and around schools should be welcomed. Fizzy drinks have a magnetic effect on youngsters who are attracted to their sugary flavors and neon colors [5]. However, the effects these drinks have on young bodies can be highly negative. In fact, some countries, on the advice of experts, have considered slapping a ‘fat tax’ on sugary drinks as a way to fight high obesity rates. Justifying its decision, the PFA took the action as it says “carbonated drinks [are] ... Injurious to health, affecting (the) physical growth of children” (Dawn news report 2017 banning cold drinks) Table 1 [6].

Table 1: Pesticide Percentage in cold drinks released from Pakistan Medical association recently.

Objective of the study

To investigated association between soft drinks and human health.

Research question

What is the relationship between soft drinks and human health?

Research methodology

The Methodology (depending upon the nature of the study) adopted for this study is Quantitative.

Purpose of the study

In this paper we also checked the effect of the soft drinks on health of the people, and check that which soft drink is most appropriate for the health of the people. Mostly people drinks soft drink for refreshment and less number of people drink the soft drink for taste etc. We are considering the canned juice, fruit juice, coke and sprite etc. we are not considering water and alcoholic drinks [7].

Target population

All type of restaurant, soft drink shops, and retail stores.

Sampled population

Soft drinks samples were purchased from retail stores in convenience stores Restaurants, whole sale markets.

Sample size

A sample of 100 people was taken from different people in Sialkot.

Sampling technique

Convenient sampling technique is used to choose the respondent’s.

Statistical methods

There are two type of methods are used in this paper.

1. Descriptive statistics
2. Chi-square test

Research instruments

The self-administered and well-developed questionnaire was used as e method of inquiry from the respondents.

Data analysis: Data analysis is presented in Table 2 and Figure 1.

Table 2: We can observe that the table has representing people’s choice of the drinks.

Figure 1: Statistical methods and data analysis is presented in the figure.

From the above table and charts we can observe that 36% people choose coke as a soft drink and 58% people chooses the fruit juice as a soft drink and 6% people specifies other soft drinks, 27% people consume soft drink more than one day and 47% people consume soft drink few times a week and 24% people consume soft drink only on special occasions and 2% people never consume soft drink, 49% people agree with the health concern of consuming too much soft drinks, 27% people strongly agree with the health concern of consuming too much soft drinks, 21% people disagree with the health concern of consuming too much soft drinks and 3% people strongly disagree with the health concern of consuming too much soft drinks, 27% people prefer the caffeine and 13% people prefer the ginseng and 56% people prefer the sugar and 4% people prefer other ingredients. 59% people purchase from convenience stores and 25% people purchase from the restaurants and 10% people purchase from the clubs and 6% people purchase from other places.64% people prefer commercials and 20% people prefer the web advertising and 10% people prefer the print advertising and 6% people prefer the other specify advertising for the most effective advertising. 36% people choose for the taste and 12% people choose for the health and 6% people choose for the price and 46% people choose soft drink for at any occasion for refreshment. 38% people choose the fruit juice and 19% people choose the sprite and 36% people choose for the cola and 6% people choose the tea or coffee and 1% people specify other  in club and pub. 69% people are satisfied and 23% people are strongly satisfied and 7% people are unsatisfied and 1% people are unsatisfied with their soft drinks, 64% people are agree and 17% people are strongly agree and 17% people are not agree and 2% people are strongly disagree that think the packaging affects the ingredients of soft drink products. 63% people are agree and 23% are strongly agree and 10% are not agree and 4% people are strongly disagree to read the ingredients list on the back of the soft drinks. 27% people are extremely health conscious and 28% people are very health conscious and 29% people are somewhat health conscious and 16% people are not at all health conscious. 52% people are agree and 11% people are strongly agree and 32% people are not agree for this and 5% people are strongly disagree to think so called diet drinks are healthier than the usual soft drink. 70% people are agreed and 24% people are strongly agreed and 5% people are disagreeing and 1% people are strongly disagreeing. 20% people are drink for taste and 2% people are drink for caffeine and 75% people are drink for refreshment and 3% people say that I do not think as.

Chi-Square testing

The Chi-square test of independence also known as the pearson Chi- Square test, or simply the Chi-Square) is one of the most useful statistics for testing hypothesis when the variables are nominal or ordinal. The Chi-square statistics is testing relationship between categorical variables. The null hypothesis of the chi-Square test is that no relationship exists between the categorical variables in the population; they are independent.

The formula for calculating a chi-square is where: O observed value.

E expected value

Hypothesis and testing:

Hypothesis#1

Null Hypothesis:

There is no association between choices of soft drinks and why do you drink soft drinks.

Alternative Hypothesis:

There is association between choices of soft drinks and why do you drink soft drinks (Table 3).

Table 3: Association between choices of soft drinks and why do you drink soft drinks.

Level of Significant:

α = 0.05

Test Statistic:

χ² –Test is used.

Interpretation

From the provided evidence all the p-value is less than α so we reject Ho. And only one p-value is greater than α so we do ‘not reject Ho. We conclude that there is association between all the questions but only one question that has no association.

Everything has two aspects positive or negative. Soft drinks have also positive effects as well as negative effects on health. The most important thing in every person’s life is to live a healthy and happy life. The excessive use of soft drinks in daily life not only destroys physical health but also produces dangerous disease such as cancer, liver damage, kidney fail, obesity etc. on the other hand some mafia like fake brands companies are playing with human health and they sale fake soft drinks in markets and people have no idea that how dangerous these fake soft drinks for human health. Punjab Food Authority is also playing a very important role in stopping this fake mafia that is playing with human lives. But we also need to be vigilant to care for ourselves from these toxic drinks. We can do this by knowing how to detect these drinks. There are some features that these fake drinks have in common. From our study we observe that mostly people prefer the fruit juice as a soft drink. Only few people prefer the cold drinks as a soft drink. More people consumes the soft drink drinks more than in a week People drinks the soft drinks for refreshment, for taste, for health and some for price. People are satisfied with their soft drink. People choose coke, Pepsi, and sprite and fruit juice as a soft drink pubs and clubs. Most people purchase their soft drinks from retailer stores and restaurants. From the hypothesis testing we conclude that, no relationship between the choice of soft drink and why we drink soft drink. From our whole study we observed that people drinks the fruit juice as compare to cold drinks. These sodas are produced using synthetic concoctions that are very hazardous for wellbeing. They contain unfiltered water, modern colors to give shading and other exceptionally unsafe synthetic compounds for human wellbeing. To stop theses monsters that are playing with human health the need is to take some serious steps from the government of Pakistan. Government of Pakistan should impose ban on fake soft drinks that are bad for human health. Educate people about the heavy soda drinks.