The impact of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages according to socio-economic position: a systematic review of the evidence

Backholer, Kathryn; Sarink, Danja; Beauchamp, Alison; Keating, Catherine; Loh, Venurs; Ball, Kylie; Martin, Jane; Peeters, Anna

doi:10.1017/s136898001600104x

Cited by 170 publications

(154 citation statements)

References 43 publications

(118 reference statements)

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“…SSB taxes are considered by some to be regressive, because low SES groups would be those most adversely affected financially 24 . As such, it was interesting that SES was not associated with support for a tax in our study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

What young Australians think about a tax on sugar‐sweetened beverages

Richardson

Yanada

Watters

et al. 2019

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

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Objective: To determine support for a tax on sugar‐sweetened beverages (SSBs) among young Australian adults and the potential impact on SSB consumption if a tax is introduced. Methods: Cross‐sectional convenience survey of Australians aged 18–30 years sampled in the City of Greater Geelong, Australia, in November–December 2017. Results: A total of 1,793 responses were recorded. Overall, 48% supported a tax on SSBs, which increased to 74% and 72% if tax revenue was allocated to subsidising fruit and vegetables or funding community exercise facilities, respectively. If a tax of $0.40/100g of sugar were introduced, 53% of participants would reduce their SSB consumption and most of this group (63%) reported that they would consume more water instead. Participants who consumed SSBs more frequently were less likely to support a tax or reduce their consumption. Gender, obesity and SES were not associated with support for a tax. Conclusions: Most young adults supported the idea of a tax on SSBs if tax revenue would be used to support healthy eating or physical activity. If a tax was introduced, most indicated that they would reduce their SSB consumption and substitute water for SSBs. Implications for public health: Policymakers can expect support from young people should an SSB tax be introduced in Australia.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

What young Australians think about a tax on sugar‐sweetened beverages

Richardson

Yanada

Watters

et al. 2019

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

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“…taxes on high-fat foods or bans on fast-food advertising). A recent systematic review suggested that a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages will deliver similar population weight benefits across socioeconomic groups or greater benefits for lower socioeconomic groups [78]. This is generally supported by another review that found evidence for upstream interventions (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Socioeconomic Inequalities in the Rise of Adult Obesity: A Time-Trend Analysis of National Examination Data from Germany, 1990–2011

et al. 2019

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Objective: Despite extensive study of the obesity epidemic, research on whether obesity has risen faster in lower or in higher socioeconomic groups is inconsistent. This study examined secular trends in obesity prevalence by socioeconomic position and the resulting obesity inequalities in the German adult population. Methods: Data were drawn from three national examination surveys conducted in 1990–1992, 1997–1999 and 2008–2011 (n = 18,541; age range: 25–69 years). Obesity was defined by a body mass index ≥30 kg/m² using standardised measurements of body height and weight. Education and equivalised household disposable income were used as indicators of socioeconomic position. Time trends in socioeconomic inequalities in obesity were examined using linear probability and log-binomial regression models. Results: In each survey period, the highest socioeconomic groups had the lowest prevalence of obesity. The low and medium socioeconomic groups showed increases in obesity prevalence, whereas no such trend was observed in the high socioeconomic groups. Absolute inequalities in obesity by income increased by an average of 0.53 percentage points per year (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01–1.05, p = 0.047) among men and 0.47 percentage points per year (95% CI 0.05–0.90, p = 0.029) among women. Absolute inequalities in obesity by education increased on average by 0.64 percentage points per year (95% CI 0.19–1.08, p = 0.005) among women but not among men (0.33 percentage points, 95% CI –0.27 to 0.92, p = 0.283). Conclusions: These findings suggest a widening obesity gap between the top and the bottom of the socioeconomic spectrum. This has the potential to have adverse consequences for population health and health inequalities in coming decades. Interventions that are effective in preventing and reducing obesity in socially disadvantaged groups are needed.

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“…Also, there is little information available on the average impacts of a SSB tax on untaxed beverages, and whether purchases and dietary intake of potential substitute beverages such as water or other untaxed beverages are increased. It was expected that SSB taxes would result in greater consumption of untaxed beverages (eg, juice, water, milk, and diet soft drinks), as demonstrated in price elasticity modelling studies . However, evidence from evaluation studies has not always been consistent and further examination is warranted.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of sugar‐sweetened beverage taxes on purchases and dietary intake: Systematic review and meta‐analysis

et al. 2019

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Summary The aim was to conduct a systematic review of real‐world sugar‐sweetened beverage (SSB) tax evaluations and examine the overall impact on beverage purchases and dietary intake by meta‐analysis. Medline, EconLit, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases were searched up to June 2018. SSB tax evaluations from any formal jurisdiction from cities to national governments were eligible if there was a comparison between pre–post tax (n = 11) or taxed and untaxed jurisdiction(s) (n = 6). The consumption outcome comprised sales, purchasing, and intake (reported by volume, energy, or frequency). Taxed and untaxed beverage consumption outcomes were examined separately by meta‐analysis with adjustment for the size of each tax. The study was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42018100620). The equivalent of a 10% SSB tax was associated with an average decline in beverage purchases and dietary intake of 10.0% (95% CI: −5.0% to −14.7%, n = 17 studies, 6 jurisdictions) with considerable heterogeneity between results (I2 = 97%).The equivalent of a 10% SSB tax was also associated with a nonsignificant 1.9% increase in total untaxed beverage consumption (eg, water) (95% CI: −2.1% to 6.1%, n = 6 studies, 4 jurisdictions). Based on real‐world evaluations, SSB taxes introduced in jurisdictions around the world appear to have been effective in reducing SSB purchases and dietary intake.

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The impact of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages according to socio-economic position: a systematic review of the evidence

Abstract: Based on the available evidence, a tax on SSB will deliver similar population weight benefits across socio-economic strata or greater benefits for lower SEP groups. An SSB tax is shown to be consistently financially regressive, but to a small degree.

Cited by 170 publications

References 43 publications

What young Australians think about a tax on sugar‐sweetened beverages

What young Australians think about a tax on sugar‐sweetened beverages

Socioeconomic Inequalities in the Rise of Adult Obesity: A Time-Trend Analysis of National Examination Data from Germany, 1990–2011

Impact of sugar‐sweetened beverage taxes on purchases and dietary intake: Systematic review and meta‐analysis

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