Countries worldwide have committed to a zero increase in obesity by 2025. To meet this commitment, governments are encouraged to promote healthy behaviours and reshape obesogenic environments through a variety of population-wide policies.
Taxing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is one such measure. Currently, 37 regional or national governments apply SSB taxes. Health-related taxes aim to decrease the purchase of a product associated with harm to health. They also aim to raise revenues, which may, or may not, be earmarked specifically for health promotion.
While other reviews investigated the effectiveness of SSB taxes for preventing obesity, the current review assessed the cost and cost-effectiveness, equity and acceptability of SSB taxation.
