Publication: Taxes on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: Summary of International Evidence and Experiences
Date
2020-04
ISSN
Published
2020-04
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
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.
Citation
“World Bank. 2020. Taxes on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages; Taxes on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages : Summary of International Evidence and Experiences. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/33969 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”