News Summary

• (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images / Getty Images)Previous studies on the impact of soda taxes have looked at one taxed city compared to a control city with no taxes, researchers said..
• This study differed by analyzing the composite effect of SSB taxes in multiple cities to paint a picture of what could happen if soda taxes were more widespread, lead author Scott Kaplan, an economics professor at the U.S..
• The American Beverage Association, an industry trade group, has said taxes limit consumer choice and that, over time, free market forces have incentivized companies to offer reduced sugar or sugar-free options to consumers..
• "SSB excise taxes were associated with large, consistent declines in SSB purchases across 5 US taxed cities following tax-driven price changes," the study said..
• The authors noted that previous studies have found that a 15% to 20% increase in price or decrease in consumption of sugary drinks led to significant health benefits, including reductions in heart disease, strokes, diabetes and obesity..
• (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images / Getty Images)"The results show shelf prices of SSB products increased by an average of 33.1% (1.3¢ per oz) in the years following SSB tax implementation, corresponding to a 92% price pass-through rate from distributors to consumers..