The effectiveness of sin food taxes: Evidence from Mexico

Aguilar, Arturo; Gutiérrez, Emilio; Seira, Enrique

doi:10.1016/j.jhealeco.2021.102455

Cited by 45 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…A key public health objective is to reduce added sugars intake. While a robust body of evidence supports that SSB taxes are associated with reductions in the demand for SSBs, limited and mixed evidence exists on their impact on changes in demand for other sugary products 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ; hence, the potential role of SSB taxes in reducing overall added sugars intake is less understood. To better understand the extent to which SSB taxes can effectively contribute to the goal of sugar intake reduction, this study drew on UPC-level scanner data from a broad range of store types to provide evidence on the net change in grams of sugar sold after the implementation of the Seattle SBT across the major food and beverage products contributing to added sugars intake in the US diet.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of Changes in Grams of Sugar Sold After the Implementation of the Seattle Sweetened Beverage Tax

Powell

Leider²,

Oddo³

2021

JAMA Netw Open

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IMPORTANCEAdults and children routinely exceed recommended intake amounts of added sugars established by dietary guidelines. Taxes are used as a policy tool to reduce demand for sugarsweetened beverages (SSBs) given consumption-related adverse health outcomes but may induce substitution to other sources of added sugars. OBJECTIVE To examine the extent to which changes in grams of sugar sold from taxed beverages may be offset by changes in grams of sugar sold from untaxed beverages, sweets, and stand-alone sugar after the implementation of the Seattle, Washington, Sweetened Beverage Tax (SBT) on January 1, 2018. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This study used difference-in-differences analyses to examine changes in grams of sugar sold from taxed and untaxed products in Seattle compared with Portland, Oregon, at year 1 and year 2 post tax. This study used Nielsen scanner data from supermarkets and mass merchandise as well as grocery, drug, convenience, and dollar stores on unit sales and measurements for beverage and food product universal product codes (UPCs) for each site for the pretax period (January 8-December 30, 2017) and the corresponding weeks in year 1 post tax (2018) and in year 2 post tax (2019). Nutritional analyses assessed grams of sugar for each UPC. The analytical balanced sample included 1326 taxed beverage UPCs, 239 untaxed beverage UPCs, 2054 sweets UPCs, and 81 stand-alone sugar UPCs. Statistical analysis was performed from January to August 2021. EXPOSURES Implementation of the Seattle SBT. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESChanges in grams of sugar sold from taxed beverages, untaxed beverages, sweets, and stand-alone sugar. RESULTSAt both year 1 and year 2 post tax in Seattle compared with Portland, grams of sugar sold from taxed beverages decreased 23% (year 2 posttax ratio of incidence rate ratios [RIRR] = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.73-0.80). Sugar sold from untaxed beverages increased at year 1 post tax by 4% (RIRR = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00-1.07) with no change at year 2 post tax. Sugar sold from sweets increased by 4% at both year 1 and year 2 post tax (year 2 posttax RIRR = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03-1.06). There were no changes in stand-alone sugar sold. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEThis study using difference-in-differences analysis found a net 19% reduction in grams of sugar sold from taxed SSBs at year 2 post tax after accounting for changes in sugar sold from untaxed beverages, sweets, and stand-alone sugar. These results suggest that SSB taxes may effectively yield permanent reductions in added sugars sold from SSBs in food stores.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 20 However, a study of the Mexico tax on SSBs and energy-dense foods using household purchase scanner data found that the reduced calories and sugar from purchases of taxed products in year 1 post tax were offset by increases in calories and sugar from purchases of untaxed food and beverage categories. 21 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Changes in Grams of Sugar Sold After the Implementation of the Seattle Sweetened Beverage Tax

Powell

Leider²,

Oddo³

2021

JAMA Netw Open

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“…Such taxes have been successful in reducing the intake of sugar sweetened products (24) . In Mexico, for example, the levy has increased the cost of sugar sweetened beverages by 15% with a decline in intake between 4 and 12% (25) . Recent data from the UK suggest that intakes per household have fallen by 10% since the introduction of the sugar levy (6) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations between free sugar intake and markers of health in the UK population: an analysis of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey rolling programme

et al. 2021

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Recommendations for free sugar intake in the UK should be no more than 5% of total energy due to increased health risks associated with overconsumption. It was therefore of interest to examine free sugar intakes and associations with health parameters in the UK population. The UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) rolling programme (2008-2017) was used for this study. Dietary intake, anthropometrical measurements and clinical biomarker data collated from 5121 adult respondents aged 19-64 years, were statistically analysed. Compared to the average total carbohydrate intake (48% of energy), free sugars comprised 12.5%, with sucrose 9% and fructose 3.5%. Intakes of these sugars, apart from fructose, were significantly different over collection year (P<0.001), and significantly higher in males (P<0.001). Comparing those consuming above or below the UK recommendations for free sugars (5% energy) significant differences were found for BMI (P<0.001), triglyceride (P<0.001), HDL (P=0.006) and homocysteine concentrations (P=0.028), and significant gender differences were observed (e.g lower blood pressure in females). Regression analysis demonstrated that free sugar intake could predict plasma triglycerides, HDL and homocysteine concentrations (P<0.0001), consistent with the link between these parameters and cardiovascular disease. We also found selected unhealthy food choices (using the UK Eatwell Guide) to be significantly higher in those that consumed above the recommendations (P<0.0001) and were predictors of free sugar intakes (P<0.0001). We have shown that adult free sugar intakes in the UK population are associated with certain negative health parameters that support the necessary reduction in free sugar intakes for the UK population.

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“…Both Colchero et al (2015) and Grogger (2017) investigate the increase in price using a price database, finding that the price of taxed soft drinks increased by more than the tax: Grogger (2017) found an average 14% increase in taxed products while the price of untaxed products did not significantly change, and Colchero et al (2015) found over-shifting but only for carbonated beverages. Aguilar et al (2021) and Colchero et al (2015) both used panel data to investigate the impact on consumer behaviour: Colchero et al (2015) focused on volumes and found purchases of taxed drinks declined by 6% while non-taxed increased by 4%; and Aguilar et al (2021) considered the reduction in calories induced by the tax, which are estimated to fall by 2.7% (they also document full pass-through of the tax with prices increasing by 9.7%). Arteaga et al (2017) also study the effect on consumer behaviour by using industry data, documenting that the volume of taxed products reduced by 3.8%.…”

Section: Existing Sugar Taxesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does a Spoonful of Sugar Levy Help the Calories Go Down? An Analysis of the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy

Dickson

Gehrsitz

Kemp³

2021

SSRN Journal

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The effectiveness of sin food taxes: Evidence from Mexico

Cited by 45 publications

References 40 publications

Evaluation of Changes in Grams of Sugar Sold After the Implementation of the Seattle Sweetened Beverage Tax

Evaluation of Changes in Grams of Sugar Sold After the Implementation of the Seattle Sweetened Beverage Tax

Associations between free sugar intake and markers of health in the UK population: an analysis of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey rolling programme

Does a Spoonful of Sugar Levy Help the Calories Go Down? An Analysis of the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy

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