Taxes on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages : Summary of International Evidence and Experiences
This evidence review is designed to support policy makers seeking to implement a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). It synthesizes the latest global evidence of effectiveness of SSB taxes and summarizes international experiences with SSB taxat...
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| Language: | English |
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World Bank, Washington, DC
2020
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/456591592449998717/Support-for-Sugary-Drinks-Taxes-Taxes-on-Sugar-Sweetened-Beverages-Summary-of-International-Evidence-and-Experiences http://hdl.handle.net/10986/33969 |
| Summary: | This evidence review is designed to
support policy makers seeking to implement a tax on
sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). It synthesizes the latest
global evidence of effectiveness of SSB taxes and summarizes
international experiences with SSB taxation to-date. SSBs
are non-alcoholic beverages that contain added caloric
sweeteners, such as sucrose (sugar) or high-fructose corn
syrup (HFCS). The main categories of SSBs are carbonated
soft drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks, less than 100
percent fruit or vegetable juices, ready-to-drink teas and
coffees, sweetened waters, and milk-based drinks. SSBs are
easily consumed in excess and contribute significantly to
sugar and energy intakes around the world without adding any
nutritional value to diets. A person consuming one SSB per
day can easily exceed the WHO’s guideline to limit free
sugars to less than 10 percent (and ideally less than 5
percent) of total daily energy intake, and is at elevated
risk of a range of adverse health effects including tooth
decay, excess weight gain, and increased risk of developing
obesity and type 2 diabetes. Although they are not the only
component of diets linked to obesity and noncommunicable
diseases (NCDs), the burden of disease attributable to SSBs
is considerable given that they are a single, entirely
discretionary (nonessential) component of the diet. From a
public health perspective, taxation of SSBs is
internationally recommended as a priority component of a
comprehensive approach to preventing and controlling obesity
and diet related NCDs. |
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