Research

Energy balance

Implementing a 20% tax on sugar-sweetened drinks in the UK reduces the prevalence of obesity by 1.3% (approx. 180,000 adults) and overweight by 0.9% (approx. 285,000 adults) through a mechanism of reduced energy intake driven by price elasticity.

A 20% tax on sugary drinks in the UK is projected to reduce the number of obese adults by 1.3%. This policy works by making sugary drinks more expensive, leading to a modest but significant reduction in consumption and overall energy intake across all income groups.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
A 20% tax on sugar sweetened drinks is estimated to reduce the number of obese adults in the UK by 180 000, or 1.3%, with similar effects seen across all income groups.
Adam Briggs et al. · BMJ · 2013

Why this rating

This is a modeling study using econometric and comparative risk assessment methods, not a randomized controlled trial, though it uses robust survey data.

Source

Overall and income specific effect on prevalence of overweight and obesity of 20% sugar sweetened drink tax in UK: econometric and comparative risk assessment modelling study

Adam Briggs et al. · BMJ · 2013

DOI 10.1136/bmj.f6189

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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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