After Mexico Implemented a Tax, Purchases of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Decreased and Water Increased: Difference by Place of Residence, Household Composition, and Income Level

Abstract

In January 2014, Mexico implemented a tax on sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) purchases of 1 peso/L. We examined the heterogeneity of changes in nonalcoholic beverage (SSB and bottled water) purchases after the tax was implemented by household income, urban and rural strata, and household composition. We used 4 rounds of the National Income and Expenditure Surveys: 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014. Changes in purchases in per capita liters per week were estimated with the use of 2-part models to adjust for nonpurchases. We compared absolute and relative differences between adjusted changes in observed purchases in 2014 with expected purchases in 2014 based on prior trends (2008-2012). The models were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics of the households, place of residence, and lagged gross domestic product per capita. We found a 6.3% reduction in the observed purchases of SSBs in 2014 compared with the expected purchases in that same year based on trends from 2008 to 2012. These reductions were higher among lower-income households, residents living in urban areas, and households with children. We also found a 16.2% increase in water purchases that was higher in low- and middle-income households, in urban areas, and among households with adults only. SSB purchases decreased and water purchases increased after an SSB tax was imposed in Mexico. The magnitude of these changes was greater in lower-income and urban households.

A systematic review of strategies to increase drinking‐water access and consumption among 0‐ to 5‐year‐olds

“…After the removal of duplicates (n = 1221), 2109 titles and abstracts were screened (Figure ) of which 2030 were excluded. After the review of 79 remaining full‐text articles, 54 were excluded leaving 25 articles for inclusion in this study …”

The Joint ORCA-EADPH Symposium on Sugar: The Oral Health Perspective – A Commentary

“…Apart from the articles published in this issue, we would like to draw the attention of the readers to the following publications. The consumption of sugared drinks decreased in Mexico as a consequence of the introduction of sugar taxes that resulted in the products being more expensive [Colchero et al, 2017]. In a model constructed with the aid of data available from Germany it was shown that the potential introduction of 20% taxes on sugared drinks could decrease the caries burden in the German population and make considerable savings in the economy through the reduction of dental treatment expenditure as well as the additional tax revenue, while it would also result in lower inequalities in dental caries [Schwendicke et al, 2016].…”

Energy, added sugar, and saturated fat contributions of taxed beverages and foods in Mexico

“…These results are worrisome, considering that Colchero and colleagues reported that the price of taxed beverages and foods increased less in rural areas, 20 and hence the effect of the tax on consumption in rural areas could be attenuated as has been already identified in the case of taxed beverages. 21 The limitations of this study are those related to the measurement error expected in self-reported dietary data, 22 as well as limitations in the of foods and beverages available in the food composition table that hinders exact classification of items as taxed or untaxed. Moreover, the content of added sugar was not available in the food * The law definition of small-scale businesses has changed from year to year (annual income of <$2 million pesos in 2014, <$100 000 pesos in 2015, and <$300 000 pesos in 2016).…”