Research
Adherence
Implementing tiered or absolute sugar content taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) generates greater health gains and cost savings than volume-based taxes by incentivizing industry reformulation to reduce added sugar content.
For policymakers, adopting a tiered or absolute sugar tax is more effective than a flat volume tax because it forces manufacturers to reduce sugar in their products, leading to greater health benefits and cost savings for the healthcare system.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Health and economic benefits were about twice as large for taxes on the basis of sugar content (either tiered or absolute) as for taxes on the basis of volume, as the former stimulated industry reformulations to reduce sugar content
Why this rating
Uses a validated microsimulation model with national data, though it relies on meta-analytic inputs for price elasticity and reformulation assumptions.
Source
Health Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of Volume, Tiered, and Absolute Sugar Content Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax Policies in the United States
Yujin Lee et al. · Circulation · 2020
cohort · n=1000000Cited 70×
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