Public views on the commercial determinants of health in Wales – a quantitative survey

Background

Commercial products and practices are a major influence on health with both positive and negative effects. In Wales, 1 in 3 deaths are attributable to tobacco, alcohol, air pollution and ultra-processed foods. However, adoption of evidence-based policies is often frustrated by political caution, industry narratives and regulatory (‘nanny state’) concerns. We set out to research public views on this.

Methods

A representative sample of adults in Wales aged 16+ was recruited, with 1,000 online survey completions during 2nd-22nd March 2026. Demographic quota controls were used, and data was weighted by age, gender, social grade and area of residence. The survey was available in English and Welsh and had two versions: one with and without background information on harmful products.

Results

Roughly 85% [+/-2%] of respondents couldn’t correctly estimate the proportion of deaths due to health harming products. However, there is high recognition of industry influences on health and government policy (mean scores 7.6[+/-0.6] and 6.6[+/-0.6] respectively on a 1-10 scale where 10 is a huge influence). There is also clear support for government action to tackle health-harming products and practices (71% vs. 29% with don’t knows excluded [+/-3%]). People with this view strongly endorse policies that restrict availability, affordability or marketing, or tackle industry influence (mean scores over 7 on a 1-10 scale where 10 is complete agreement). Subsidising healthy food and good governance measures for policymaking are especially popular. This support is maintained regardless of demographic but is slightly higher amongst less deprived groups and slightly increases with provision of harms information.

Conclusions

These results support the principle of governments tackling harmful commercial products and practices. Various policy types enjoy support. The public appear to underestimate product harms. Prompting with information on this can increase support for action.

Key messages

• There is widespread support, across demographics, for governments to tackle health harming products and practices. Various policies enjoy support; good governance measures are especially popular.

• The public recognise industry influence on policy but typically underestimate harm caused by commercial products. Providing information on harms can further increase support for action.