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Lee MM, Gibson LA, Hua SV, Lowery CM, Paul M, Roberto CA, Lawman HG, Bleich SN, Mitra N, Kenney EL. Advertising and Stocking at Small Retailers: A Sweetened Beverage Excise Tax in Philadelphia. Am J Prev Med 2024; 66:408-417. [PMID: 37774991 PMCID: PMC10922562 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In 2017, Philadelphia enacted a $0.015 per ounce excise tax on SBs that covered both sugar-sweetened beverages and artificially-sweetened beverages, which reduced purchasing and consumption. This study assessed whether the tax also changed beverage advertising or stocking practices that could influence consumer behavior among stores in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Philadelphia-adjacent counties not subject to the tax. METHODS Using a longitudinal difference-in-differences approach, beverage advertising and availability changes were evaluated from 4-month pretax to 6-, 12-, and 24-month post-implementation in small independent stores in Philadelphia (n=34) and Philadelphia-adjacent counties (n=38) versus Baltimore (n=43), a demographically similar city without a tax. Mixed effects models tested whether beverage advertising/availability increased in Philadelphia and surrounding counties after implementation versus Baltimore, included store-level random intercepts, and were stratified by beverage tax status, type, size, and store ZIP code income. Data were collected from 2016 to 2018, and analyses were performed in 2022-2023. RESULTS SB advertising increased post-tax in Philadelphia (6 months= +1.04 advertisements/store [95% CI=0.27, 1.80]; 12 months= +1.54 [95% CI=0.57, 2.52]; 24 months= +0.91 [95% CI=0.09, 1.72]) relative to Baltimore. This was driven by increased advertising of sweetened beverages in low-income ZIP codes. Marketing of SBs increased significantly in Philadelphia-adjacent counties relative to Baltimore. Although SB availability in Philadelphia did not change, it increased in surrounding county stores (6 months= +0.20 [95% CI=0.15, 0.25]; 12 months= +0.08 [95% CI=0.03, 0.12]) relative to Baltimore. CONCLUSIONS Marketing of SBs, especially in low-income neighborhoods and in surrounding counties, increased following Philadelphia's beverage tax among small, independent retailers. These increases in advertising might have dampened the tax's effect on purchasing behaviors, although estimated effects on sales remained large.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew M Lee
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Laura A Gibson
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sophia V Hua
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Caitlin M Lowery
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Maiki Paul
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Christina A Roberto
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Hannah G Lawman
- Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sara N Bleich
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nandita Mitra
- Division of Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Erica L Kenney
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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Ali SH, Lowery CM, Trude ACB. Leveraging Multiyear, Geospatial Social Media Data for Health Policy Evaluations: Lessons From the Philadelphia Beverage Tax. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE 2023; 29:E253-E262. [PMID: 37467151 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000001804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Public reactions to health policies are vital to understand policy sustainability and impact but have been elusively difficult to dynamically measure. The 2021 launch of the Twitter Academic Application Programming Interface (API), allowing for historical tweet analyses, represents a potentially powerful tool for complex, comprehensive policy analyses. OBJECTIVE Using the Philadelphia Beverage Tax (implemented January 2017) as a case study, this research extracted longitudinal and geographic changes in sentiments, and key influencers in policy-related conversations. DESIGN The Twitter API was used to retrieve all publicly available tweets related to the Tax between 2016 and 2019. SETTING Twitter. PARTICIPANTS Users who posted publicly available tweets related to the Philadelphia Beverage Tax (PBT). MAIN OUTCOME Tweet content, frequency, sentiment, and user-related information. MEASURES Tweet content, authors, engagement, and location were analyzed in parallel to key PBT events. Published emotional lexicons were used for sentiment analyses. RESULTS A total of 45 891 tweets were retrieved (1311 with geolocation data). Changes in the tweet volume and sentiment were strongly driven by Tax-related litigation. While anger and fear increased in the months prior to the policy's implementation, they progressively decreased after its implementation; trust displayed an inverse trend. The 50 tweeters with the highest positive engagement included media outlets (n = 24), displaying particularly high tweet volume/engagement, and public personalities (n = 10), displaying the greatest polarization in tweet sentiment. Most geo-located tweets, reflecting 321 unique locations, were from the Philadelphia region (55.2%). Sentiment and positive engagement varied, although concentrations of negative sentiments were observed in some Philadelphia suburbs. CONCLUSIONS Findings highlighted how longitudinal Twitter data can be leveraged to deconstruct specific, dynamic insights on public policy reactions and information dissemination to inform better policy implementation and evaluation (eg, anticipating catalysts for both heightened public interest and geographic, sentiment changes in policy conversations). This study provides policymakers a blueprint to conduct similar cost and time efficient yet dynamic and multifaceted health policy evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahmir H Ali
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, New York (Dr Ali); Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Ms Lowery); and Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York, New York (Dr Trude)
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Shen J, Wang J, Yang F, An R. Impact of soda tax on beverage price, sale, purchase, and consumption in the US: a systematic review and meta-analysis of natural experiments. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1126569. [PMID: 37808982 PMCID: PMC10556476 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1126569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background As a primary source of added sugars in the US diet, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is presumed to contribute to obesity prevalence and poor oral health. We systematically synthesized and quantified evidence from US-based natural experiments concerning the impact of SSB taxes on beverage prices, sales, purchases, and consumption. Methods A keyword and reference search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and EconLit from the inception of an electronic bibliographic database to Oct 31, 2022. Meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the pooled effect of soda taxes on SSB consumption, prices, passthrough rate, and purchases. Results Twenty-six natural experiments, all adopting a difference-in-differences approach, were included. Studies assessed soda taxes in Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco in California, Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, Boulder in Colorado, Seattle in Washington, and Cook County in Illinois. Tax rates ranged from 1 to 2 ¢/oz. The imposition of the soda tax was associated with a 1.06 ¢/oz. (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.90, 1.22) increase in SSB prices and a 27.3% (95% CI = 19.3, 35.4%) decrease in SSB purchases. The soda tax passthrough rate was 79.7% (95% CI = 65.8, 93.6%). A 1 ¢/oz. increase in soda tax rate was associated with increased prices of SSBs by 0.84 ¢/oz (95% CI = 0.33, 1.35). Conclusion Soda taxes could be effective policy leverage to nudge people toward purchasing and consuming fewer SSBs. Future research should examine evidence-based classifications of SSBs, targeted use of revenues generated by taxes to reduce health and income disparities, and the feasibility of redesigning the soda tax to improve efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Shen
- Department of Physical Education, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, China
| | - Junjie Wang
- School of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Fan Yang
- School of Public Administration, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Ruopeng An
- Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
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Jackson KE, Hamad R, Karasek D, White JS. Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes and Perinatal Health: A Quasi-Experimental Study. Am J Prev Med 2023; 65:366-376. [PMID: 36966893 PMCID: PMC10518370 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION One in 5 pregnant individuals report consuming sugar-sweetened beverages at least once per day. Excess sugar consumption during pregnancy is associated with several perinatal complications. As sugar-sweetened beverage taxes become increasingly common public health measures to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, evidence of the downstream effects of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes on perinatal health remains limited. METHODS This longitudinal retrospective study examines whether sugar-sweetened beverage taxes in 5 U.S. cities were associated with decreased risk of perinatal complications, leveraging 2013-2019 U.S. national birth certificate data and a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences approach to estimate changes in perinatal outcomes. Analysis occurred from April 2021 through January 2023. RESULTS The sample included 5,324,548 pregnant individuals and their live singleton births in the U.S. from 2013 through 2019. Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes were associated with a 41.4% decreased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (-2.2 percentage points; 95% CI= -4.2, -0.2), a -7.9% reduction in weight-gain-for-gestational-age z-score (-0.2 standard deviations; 95% CI= -0.3, -0.01), and decreased risk of infants born small for gestational age (-4.3 percentage points; 95% CI= -6.5, -2.1). There were heterogeneous effects across subgroups, particularly for weight-gain-for-gestational-age z-score. CONCLUSIONS Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes levied in five U.S. cities were associated with improvements in perinatal health. Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes may be an effective policy instrument for improving health during pregnancy, a critical window during which short-term dietary exposures can have lifelong consequences for the birthing person and child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn E Jackson
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Rita Hamad
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Deborah Karasek
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Justin S White
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
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Petimar J, Gibson LA, Wolff MS, Mitra N, Corby P, Hettinger G, Gregory EF, Edmondson E, Block JP, Roberto CA. Changes in Dental Outcomes After Implementation of the Philadelphia Beverage Tax. Am J Prev Med 2023; 65:221-229. [PMID: 36863896 PMCID: PMC10363192 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Beverage taxes are associated with declines in sugar-sweetened beverage sales and consumption, but few studies have evaluated the associations of these taxes with health outcomes. This study analyzed changes in dental decay after the implementation of the Philadelphia sweetened beverage tax. METHODS Electronic dental record data were obtained on 83,260 patients living in Philadelphia and control areas from 2014 to 2019. Difference-in-differences analyses compared the number of new Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth with that of new Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surfaces before (January 2014-December 2016) and after (January 2019-December 2019) tax implementation in Philadelphia and control patients. Analyses were conducted in older children/adults (aged ≥15 years) and younger children (aged <15 years). Subgroup analyses stratified by Medicaid status. Analyses were conducted in 2022. RESULTS The number of new Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth did not change after tax implementation in Philadelphia in panel analyses of older children/adults (difference-in-differences= -0.02, 95% CI= -0.08, 0.03) or younger children (difference-in-differences=0.07, 95% CI= -0.08, 0.23). There were similarly no post-tax changes in the number of new Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surfaces. However, in cross-sectional samples of patients on Medicaid, the number of new Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth was lower after tax implementation in older children/adults (difference-in-differences= -0.18, 95% CI= -0.34, -0.03; -22% decline) and younger children (difference-in-differences= -0.22, 95% CI= -0.46, 0.01; -30% decline), with similar results for number of new Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surfaces. CONCLUSIONS The Philadelphia beverage tax was not associated with reduced tooth decay in the general population, but it was associated with reduced tooth decay in adults and children on Medicaid, suggesting potential health benefits for low-income populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Petimar
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School & Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Laura A Gibson
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mark S Wolff
- School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Nandita Mitra
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Patricia Corby
- School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Gary Hettinger
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Emily F Gregory
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Emma Edmondson
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jason P Block
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School & Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Christina A Roberto
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Barry LE, Kee F, Woodside J, Clarke M, Cawley J, Doherty E, Crealey GE, Duggan J, O'Neill C. An umbrella review of the effectiveness of fiscal and pricing policies on food and non-alcoholic beverages to improve health. Obes Rev 2023:e13570. [PMID: 37095626 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Poor quality diets represent major risk factors for the global burden of disease. Modeling studies indicate a potential for diet-related fiscal and pricing policies (FPs) to improve health. There is real-world evidence (RWE) that such policies can change behavior; however, the evidence regarding health is less clear. We conducted an umbrella review of the effectiveness of FPs on food and non-alcoholic beverages in influencing health or intermediate outcomes like consumption. We considered FPs applied to an entire population within a jurisdiction and included four systematic reviews in our final sample. Quality appraisal, an examination of excluded reviews, and a literature review of recent primary studies assessed the robustness of our results. Taxes and, to some extent, subsidies are effective in changing consumption of taxed/subsidized items; however, substitution is likely to occur. There is a lack of RWE supporting the effectiveness of FPs in improving health but this does not mean that they are ineffective. FPs may be important for improving health but their design is critical. Poorly designed FPs may fail to improve health and could reduce support for such policies or be used to support their repeal. More high-quality RWE on the impact of FPs on health is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke E Barry
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, UK
| | - Frank Kee
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, UK
| | - Jayne Woodside
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, UK
| | - Mike Clarke
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, UK
| | - John Cawley
- Brooks School of Public Policy, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Edel Doherty
- John E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Co. Galway, Ireland
| | - Grainne E Crealey
- John E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Co. Galway, Ireland
| | - Jim Duggan
- John E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Co. Galway, Ireland
| | - Ciaran O'Neill
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, UK
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White JS, Basu S, Kaplan S, Madsen KA, Villas-Boas SB, Schillinger D. Evaluation of the sugar-sweetened beverage tax in Oakland, United States, 2015-2019: A quasi-experimental and cost-effectiveness study. PLoS Med 2023; 20:e1004212. [PMID: 37071600 PMCID: PMC10112812 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While a 2021 federal commission recommended that the United States government levy a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax to improve diabetes prevention and control efforts, evidence is limited regarding the longer-term impacts of SSB taxes on SSB purchases, health outcomes, costs, and cost-effectiveness. This study estimates the impact and cost-effectiveness of an SSB tax levied in Oakland, California. METHODS AND FINDINGS An SSB tax ($0.01/oz) was implemented on July 1, 2017, in Oakland. The main sample of sales data included 11,627 beverage products, 316 stores, and 172,985,767 product-store-month observations. The main analysis, a longitudinal quasi-experimental difference-in-differences approach, compared changes in beverage purchases at stores in Oakland versus Richmond, California (a nontaxed comparator in the same market area) before and 30 months after tax implementation (through December 31, 2019). Additional estimates used synthetic control methods with comparator stores in Los Angeles, California. Estimates were inputted into a closed-cohort microsimulation model to estimate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and societal costs (in Oakland) from 6 SSB-associated disease outcomes. In the main analysis, SSB purchases declined by 26.8% (95% CI -39.0 to -14.7, p < 0.001) in Oakland after tax implementation, compared with Richmond. There were no detectable changes in purchases of untaxed beverages or sweet snacks or purchases in border areas surrounding cities. In the synthetic control analysis, declines in SSB purchases were similar to the main analysis (-22.4%, 95% CI -41.7% to -3.0%, p = 0.04). The estimated changes in SSB purchases, when translated into declines in consumption, would be expected to accrue QALYs (94 per 10,000 residents) and significant societal cost savings (>$100,000 per 10,000 residents) over 10 years, with greater gains over a lifetime horizon. Study limitations include a lack of SSB consumption data and use of sales data primarily from chain stores. CONCLUSIONS An SSB tax levied in Oakland was associated with a substantial decline in volume of SSBs purchased, an association that was sustained more than 2 years after tax implementation. Our study suggests that SSB taxes are effective policy instruments for improving health and generating significant cost savings for society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin S. White
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Sanjay Basu
- Waymark Health, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Scott Kaplan
- Department of Economics, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kristine A. Madsen
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Sofia B. Villas-Boas
- Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Dean Schillinger
- Center for Vulnerable Populations, Division of General Internal Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital/University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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Chatelan A, Rouche M, Kelly C, Fismen AS, Pedroni C, Desbouys L, Castetbon K. Tax on sugary drinks and trends in daily soda consumption by family affluence: an international repeated cross-sectional survey among European adolescents. Am J Clin Nutr 2023; 117:576-585. [PMID: 36775689 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The WHO recommends soda taxes to reduce sugar consumption, but the effect across socioeconomic groups is unclear. OBJECTIVES We assessed 16-y trends in daily soda consumption among adolescents in 4 European countries with a soda tax and 5 comparison countries, by family affluence. METHODS Five rounds of the international "Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children" school-based survey were used (school years 2001/2002 to 2017/2018, repeated cross-sectional design). Finland, France, Belgium, and Portugal introduced or updated a soda tax during this period. For comparison, we selected 5 neighboring countries without such a tax. Nationally representative samples of adolescents aged 13 and 15 y (n = 165,521; 51.2% girls) completed a standardized questionnaire, including a question on soda consumption frequency. Using the family affluence scale (FAS), we categorized adolescents into lower-, middle- or higher-affluent groups. Changes in daily soda consumption were assessed in each country independently. RESULTS Before taxation, daily soda consumption was more likely among lower-affluent adolescents in France and Belgium (P < 0.001, socioeconomic inequalities) and was similar across FAS groups in Finland and Portugal (no inequalities). After the tax, daily soda consumption was reduced across all FAS groups in Finland, Belgium, and Portugal (Pinteractions ≥ 0.33). In France, a posttax decrease was observed only among lower-affluent adolescents (ORlower, 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.96; reduced inequalities). During the same periods, socioeconomic patterns remained stable in 3 comparison countries (Pinteractions ≥ 0.38), and larger reductions in daily soda consumption were observed among middle- or higher-affluent adolescents compared with lower-affluent adolescents in the remaining 2 comparison countries (Pinteractions ≤ 0.08, increased inequalities). CONCLUSIONS Socioeconomic patterns did not change after the tax implementation in 3 out of 4 countries, and socioeconomic inequalities were reduced in France. Taxing sodas might be an effective measure to attenuate, or at least not exacerbate, socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent daily soda consumption. Am J Clin Nutr 20XX;xx:xx-xx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeline Chatelan
- School of Public Health, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Geneva School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Manon Rouche
- School of Public Health, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Colette Kelly
- Health Promotion Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Anne-Siri Fismen
- Department of Health Promotion and Centre for Evaluation of Public Health Measures, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway
| | - Camille Pedroni
- School of Public Health, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lucille Desbouys
- School of Public Health, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Katia Castetbon
- School of Public Health, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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Are We What We Eat? The Moral Imperative of the Medical Profession to Promote Plant-Based Nutrition. Am J Cardiol 2023; 188:15-21. [PMID: 36446227 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2022.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The typical Western diet, high in processed and animal-based foods, is nutritionally and ethically problematic. Beyond the well-documented cruelty to animals that characterizes the practices of the factory-farming industry, current patterns of meat consumption contribute to medical and moral harm in humans on both an individual level and a public health scale. We aim to deconstruct, by highlighting their fallacies, the common positive and normative arguments that are used to defend current nutritional patterns. Animal-based foods promote the mechanisms that underlie chronic cardiometabolic disease, whereas whole-food plant-based nutrition can reverse them. Factory farming of animals also contributes to climate change, antibiotic resistance, and the spread of infectious diseases. Finally, the current allocation of nutritional resources in the United States is unjust. A societal shift toward more whole-food plant-based patterns of eating stands to provide significant health benefits and ethical advantages, and the medical profession has a duty to advocate accordingly. Although it remains important for individuals to make better food choices to promote their own health, personal responsibility is predicated on sound advice and on resource equity, including the availability of healthy options. Nutrition equity is a moral imperative and should be a top priority in the promotion of public health.
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Silver LD, Padon AA, Li L, Simard BJ, Greenfield TK. Changes in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in the first two years (2018 - 2020) of San Francisco's tax: A prospective longitudinal study. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001219. [PMID: 36963015 PMCID: PMC10021346 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes are a promising strategy to decrease SSB consumption, and their inequitable health impacts, while raising revenue to meet social objectives. In 2016, San Francisco passed a one cent per ounce tax on SSBs. This study compared SSB consumption in San Francisco to that in San José, before and after tax implementation in 2018. METHODS & FINDINGS A longitudinal panel of adults (n = 1,443) was surveyed from zip codes in San Francisco and San José, CA with higher densities of Black and Latino residents, racial/ethnic groups with higher SSB consumption in California. SSB consumption was measured at baseline (11/17-1/18), one- (11/18-1/19), and two-years (11/19-1/20) after the SSB tax was implemented in January 2018. Average daily SSB consumption (in ounces) was ascertained using the BevQ-15 instrument and modeled as both continuous and binary (high consumption: ≥6 oz (178 ml) versus low consumption: <6 oz) daily beverage intake measures. Weighted generalized linear models (GLMs) estimated difference-in-differences of SSB consumption between cities by including variables for year, city, and their interaction, adjusting for demographics and sampling source. In San Francisco, average SSB consumption in the sample declined by 34.1% (-3.68 oz, p = 0.004) from baseline to 2 years post-tax, versus San José which declined 16.5% by 2 years post-tax (-1.29 oz, p = 0.157), a non-significant difference-in-differences (-17.6%, adjusted AMR = 0.79, p = 0.224). The probability of high SSB intake in San Francisco declined significantly more than in San José from baseline to 2-years post-tax (AOR[interaction] = 0.49, p = 0.031). The difference-in-differences of odds of high consumption, examining the interaction between cities, time and poverty, was far greater (AOR[city*year 2*federal poverty level] = 0.12, p = 0.010) among those living below 200% of the federal poverty level 2-years post-tax. CONCLUSIONS Average SSB intake declined significantly in San Francisco post-tax, but the difference in differences between cities over time did not vary significantly. Likelihood of high SSB intake declined significantly more in San Francisco by year 2 and more so among low-income respondents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn D. Silver
- Prevention Policy Group, Public Health Institute, Oakland, California, United States of America
| | - Alisa A. Padon
- Prevention Policy Group, Public Health Institute, Oakland, California, United States of America
| | - Libo Li
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, California, United States of America
| | - Bethany J. Simard
- Prevention Policy Group, Public Health Institute, Oakland, California, United States of America
| | - Thomas K. Greenfield
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, California, United States of America
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Hammaker J, Anda D, Kozakiewicz T, Bachina V, Berretta M, Shisler S, Lane C. Systematic review on fiscal policy interventions in nutrition. Front Nutr 2022; 9:967494. [PMID: 36532551 PMCID: PMC9756132 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.967494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Both the World Health Organization and the Lancet Series on Adolescent nutrition recommend that governments adopt fiscal policies to combat diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, rigorous, systematic evidence regarding the effects of these interventions is lacking. Methods We synthesize the available evidence regarding the impacts of taxes and subsidies that directly affect consumer prices on availability and accessibility of foods and beverages, purchasing behavior, diet quality, health and well-being outcomes as well as considerations for implementation, sustainability and equity. Results Our initial search returned 2,113 de-duplicated studies, and ultimately 24 impact evaluations and two systematic reviews met final eligibility criteria and represented unique evaluations. Our meta-analysis of these studies suggests that taxes may decrease purchases of taxed beverages (SMD = -0.14 [95% CI: -0.29 to -0.07], n = 15). Results should be interpreted cautiously due to considerable heterogeneity (Q(14) = 335.19, p = 0.01,τ ^ 2 = 0.03 , I 2 = 95.82%). Discussion The evidence base is too limited to draw conclusions about the effects of taxes on beverages and calorie-dense foods on purchases, or on the effects of subsidies on purchasing or diet quality. Overall, the evidence base is inconclusive on whether fiscal policies can meaningfully influence the availability and accessibility of foods and beverages, diet quality, and health outcomes. Policymakers implementing fiscal policies should consider information campaigns on health benefits and health risks associated with certain food and beverage consumption. For taxes, exposure to health information may amplify signaling effects of taxes and reduce avoidance behaviors, such as cross-border shopping. Future evaluations should diversify data sources to better understand impacts on diet and health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Charlotte Lane
- International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), Washington, DC, United States
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12
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Wierzejska RE. The Impact of the Sweetened Beverages Tax on Their Reformulation in Poland-The Analysis of the Composition of Commercially Available Beverages before and after the Introduction of the Tax (2020 vs. 2021). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14464. [PMID: 36361345 PMCID: PMC9658175 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to estimate changes in the composition of carbonated and non-carbonated sugar-sweetened beverages before and after the introduction of the beverage tax in Poland. Based on the labels of 198 drinks, the composition and nutritional values of the drinks were compared. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was applied to compare the differences in the sugar and juice content as well as energy value. After the introduction of the tax, the median sugar content in the carbonated beverages decreased from 8.6 g to 6.9 g/100 mL (p = 0.004), while in the non-carbonated beverages, it decreased from 5.5 g to 4.8 g/100 mL (p < 0.001). In the entire beverage group, there was a significant drop in the proportion of beverages that contained >5 g of sugars/100 mL (44.4% in 2021 vs. 70.2% in 2020). The median juice content in the carbonated beverages increased from 1.0% to 3.3% (p = 0.121), but totalled 20.0% for both periods in the non-carbonated beverages. The percentage of beverages with a tax-exempt composition (juice content ≥ 20% and sugar content ≤ 5 g/100 mL) almost tripled. After the introduction of the tax, beneficial changes in the compositions of 62% of the analysed beverages were observed in terms of their sugar and/or juice content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Ewa Wierzejska
- Department of Nutrition and Nutritional Value of Food, National Institute of Public Health NIH-National Research Institute, Chocimska St. 24, 00-791 Warsaw, Poland
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13
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Chatelan A, Rouche M, Dzielska A, Fismen AS, Kelly C, Pedroni C, Desbouys L, Castetbon K. Sixteen-year trends in adolescent consumption of sugar-sweetened soda in six European countries with a soda tax and comparison countries: a repeated cross-sectional survey analysis. Public Health Nutr 2022; 26:1-12. [PMID: 36321519 PMCID: PMC9989715 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980022002361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine changes in the proportions of daily, weekly and occasional consumers of sugar-sweetened soda in six European countries that introduced/updated a tax between 2001-2002 and 2017-2018 and in neighbouring comparison countries (without a tax). DESIGN Repeated cross-sectional surveys. SETTING Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, spanning five survey years (school years 2001-2002 to 2017-2018). PARTICIPANTS Nationally representative samples of 13-year- and 15-year-old adolescents (n 236 623, 51·0 % girls). RESULTS Tax sizes (€0·02/l to €0·22/l) and pre-tax soda consumption were heterogeneous across countries. Prevalence of daily soda consumption reduced in the survey year following tax implementation in Latvia (from 17·9 to 11·9 %, P = 0·01), Finland (4·2 to 2·5 %, P = 0·001), Belgium (35·1 to 27·8 %, P < 0·001) and Portugal (17·4 to 14·9 %, P = 0·02), but not in Hungary (29·8 to 31·3 %, P = 0·47) or France (29·4 to 28·2 %, P = 0·27). However, reductions were similar (Finland) or smaller (Belgium, Portugal) than those in the comparison countries, except in Latvia where the reduction was larger (Pinteraction < 0·001). Prevalence of weekly soda consumption remained stable (Finland, Hungary and France) or increased (Latvia, Belgium); only Portugal experienced a decline (P < 0·001), which was larger than in the comparison country (Pinteraction < 0·001). Prevalence of occasional soda consumption (<1x/week) did not rise after implementation of the tax in Latvia, Finland, Hungary, France or Belgium, or the rise was similar to the comparison country in Portugal (Pinteraction = 0·15). CONCLUSIONS Countries with a soda tax did not experience larger beneficial changes in post-tax adolescent consumption frequency of soda than comparison countries. Further studies, with different taxation types, are needed in the adolescent population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeline Chatelan
- Geneva School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Av. des Caroubiers 25, 1227 Carouge, Geneva, Switzerland
- School of Public Health, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Manon Rouche
- Geneva School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Av. des Caroubiers 25, 1227 Carouge, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anna Dzielska
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anne-Siri Fismen
- Department of Health Promotion, Centre for Evaluation of Public Health Measures, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway
| | - Colette Kelly
- Health Promotion Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Camille Pedroni
- Geneva School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Av. des Caroubiers 25, 1227 Carouge, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lucille Desbouys
- Geneva School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Av. des Caroubiers 25, 1227 Carouge, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Katia Castetbon
- Geneva School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Av. des Caroubiers 25, 1227 Carouge, Geneva, Switzerland
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Lozano‐Rojas F, Carlin P. The effect of soda taxes beyond beverages in Philadelphia. HEALTH ECONOMICS 2022; 31:2381-2410. [PMID: 35978481 PMCID: PMC9804786 DOI: 10.1002/hec.4586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Soda taxes are implemented in several cities across the United States (US) with the aim of reducing sugar intake from sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs). Sugar is linked to obesity and to higher risk of diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. Sodas are targeted with these taxes since they are the main source of sugar for consumers in the US. In presence of potential substitutes, the policy can be undermined by consumers changing their sources of sugar. We examine the heterogeneous effects of the 2017 Philadelphia soda tax on purchases of other items containing sugar. We present an empirical evaluation focusing on the potential substitution toward additional sugary foods in Philadelphia and counties bordering Philadelphia. We find an increase in sugar from purchases of sweetened foods of about 4.3% following the introduction of the tax in Philadelphia and of 3.7% in the neighboring localities. The substitution to sugary foods in Philadelphia offsets 19% of the decrease of sugar from SSBs. Additionally, we find that the substitution offsets 37% of the decrease of sugar from SSBs when including counties bordering Philadelphia. These results suggest that while SSB taxes might be effective at lowering consumption of SSBs, substitution patterns may limit the effectiveness of the tax to reduce overall sugar intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Lozano‐Rojas
- School of Public and International AffairsUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
| | - Patrick Carlin
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental AffairsIndiana University BloomingtonBloomingtonIndianaUSA
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15
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Petimar J, Gibson LA, Yan J, Bleich SN, Mitra N, Trego ML, Lawman HG, Roberto CA. Sustained Impact of the Philadelphia Beverage Tax on Beverage Prices and Sales Over 2 Years. Am J Prev Med 2022; 62:921-929. [PMID: 35221175 PMCID: PMC9124672 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2021.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION It is unclear whether changes in beverage price and sales after beverage tax implementation can be sustained long term. This study aims to quantify the changes in beverage prices and sales in large retailers 2 years after the implementation of the 1.5 cents per ounce Philadelphia beverage tax. METHODS Data on price and volume sales of beverages and potential food substitutes were collected from 109 supermarkets, 45 mass merchandizers, and 350 pharmacies in Philadelphia, Baltimore (control), and Pennsylvania ZIP codes bordering Philadelphia (to investigate potential cross-border shopping for tax avoidance). Difference-in-differences analyses compared beverage prices and volume sales in the year before tax implementation (2016) to 2 years after (2018). Data were analyzed in 2020-2021. RESULTS Difference-in-differences analyses found that after tax implementation, taxed beverage prices in Philadelphia increased by 1.02 cents per ounce (95% CI=0.94, 1.11; 68% pass through), and taxed beverage volume sales in stores decreased by 50% (95% CI=36%, 61%). After accounting for cross-border shopping, taxed beverage volume sales decreased in Philadelphia by 35% in 2018. Volume sales of nontaxed beverages did not change after tax implementation (difference-in-differences=4%, 95% CI= -3%, 12%). Volume sales of nontaxed beverage concentrates increased on average by 34% (95% CI=19%, 51%), but there was no evidence of substitution to high-calorie foods. CONCLUSIONS There was a large reduction in taxed beverage volume sales 2 years after Philadelphia tax implementation, even after accounting for cross-border shopping. Increases in nontaxed beverage concentrate sales likely partially offset this decline, but there was no evidence of post-tax food substitution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Petimar
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Laura A Gibson
- Department of Medical Ethics & Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jiali Yan
- Department of Medical Ethics & Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sara N Bleich
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nandita Mitra
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Marsha L Trego
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Hannah G Lawman
- Division of Chronic Disease & Injury Prevention, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Christina A Roberto
- Department of Medical Ethics & Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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16
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Barker AR, Mazzucca S, An R. The Impact of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes by Household Income: A Multi-City Comparison of Nielsen Purchasing Data. Nutrients 2022; 14:922. [PMID: 35267897 PMCID: PMC8912695 DOI: 10.3390/nu14050922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the role that sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) play in the obesity epidemic, SSB taxes have been enacted in the United States in the California cities of Albany, Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco, as well as in Boulder, Philadelphia, and Seattle. We pooled five years of Nielsen Consumer Panel and Retail Scanner Data (2014-18) to examine purchasing behaviors in and around these cities that have instituted SSB taxes. We included households that were either subject to the tax during the study period or were in surrounding areas within the same state. The goal was to test for the differential impact of SSB taxes by income level and type of tax. Multivariate analyses of beverage purchases found that (1) there is a dose-response relationship with the size of the SSB tax; (2) the Philadelphia tax, which is the only one that includes low-calorie beverages, is associated with greater reductions in SSB purchases and an increase in bottled water purchase; and (3) approximately 72% of the tax is passed through to consumers, but this does not vary by income level of the household. Few income-related effects were detected. Overall, our findings suggest that the Philadelphia model may be the most effective at encouraging healthy habits in beverage choice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ruopeng An
- Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA; (A.R.B.); (S.M.)
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17
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Leider J, Powell LM. Longer-term impacts of the Oakland, California, sugar-sweetened beverage tax on prices and volume sold at two-years post-tax. Soc Sci Med 2021; 292:114537. [PMID: 34838326 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is associated with obesity and independently associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Not only is obesity a growing public health problem, but it is also most recently associated with increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Taxes on SSBs are a policy tool used to help curb SSB consumption and are currently implemented in 7 U.S. cities and more than 40 countries. On July 1, 2017, Oakland, California, implemented a 1-cent/ounce tax on SSBs with ≥25 kilocalories/12 ounces. This study estimated the impact of the Oakland tax on prices, volume sold, and cross-border shopping two-years post-tax relative to one-year pre-tax. Universal product code-level Nielsen retail scanner data on non-alcoholic beverage sales were analyzed using a difference-in-differences design with Sacramento, California, as the comparison site. Taxed beverage prices increased by 0.67 cents/ounce, on average, in Oakland relative to Sacramento, corresponding to 67% pass-through. Taxed beverage volume sold decreased by 18% in Oakland relative to Sacramento, with a larger decrease for family-size beverages (23%) relative to individual-size beverages (8%). There was a 9% increase in volume sold of taxed beverages in the two-mile border area surrounding Oakland relative to the Sacramento border area, driven by a 12% increase for family-size taxed beverages. After accounting for this cross-border shopping, there was a net decrease of 6% in taxed beverage volume sold in Oakland. There was no significant change in untaxed beverage volume sold in either Oakland or its border area relative to their respective comparison sites, suggesting there was no substitution to untaxed beverages and cross-border shopping may have been limited to taxed beverages. This two-year post-tax study of the Oakland SSB tax adds to the limited number of longer-term evaluations of local U.S. SSB taxes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Leider
- Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois Chicago, 1747 W. Roosevelt Road, MC 275, Chicago, IL, 60608, USA.
| | - Lisa M Powell
- Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois Chicago, 1747 W. Roosevelt Road, MC 275, Chicago, IL, 60608, USA; Division of Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, 1603 W. Taylor Street, MC 923, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
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18
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Powell LM, Leider J, Oddo VM. Evaluation of Changes in Grams of Sugar Sold After the Implementation of the Seattle Sweetened Beverage Tax. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2132271. [PMID: 34739061 PMCID: PMC8571660 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.32271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Adults 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 sugar-sweetened 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 MEASURES Changes in grams of sugar sold from taxed beverages, untaxed beverages, sweets, and stand-alone sugar. RESULTS At 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 RELEVANCE This 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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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. Powell
- Division of Health Policy and Administration, University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, Chicago
| | - Julien Leider
- Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago
| | - Vanessa M. Oddo
- Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois Chicago College of Applied Health Sciences, Chicago
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