Taxation for reducing purchase and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages: A systematic review

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are common in worldwide and lead to a dramatic rise in mortality. Excess consumption of sugar due to dietary changes can lead to arising calorie intake that contributes to weight gain, adiposity, and NCDs. Taxes, subsidies, and other economic executive policy have a key role in discouraging the consumption of unhealthy food. This study was aimed at a systematic review of recent research evidence about the tax impacts on the purchase and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Five databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, CENTERAL, and EMBASE, were systematically searched from 2000 to May 2017. Seven studies were included in this review. In six of the seven experimental studies reviewed demonstrated that consumers can be responsive to changes in food and drink prices. Taxing SSBs effectively could decrease food purchases, increasing SSBs price, and reducing consumption. Reducing the consumption of these beverages results in reduced overweight, obesity, and body mass index among populations. The current evidence base appears to converge and suggests that the fiscal strategy is likely to reduce purchases of high sugar products at least in the short term and likely can lead to decreasing calorie intake.