"Sugary Beverage Sales Dip Following Soda Tax Implementation, Study Shows"

A study published in JAMA Health Forum found that soda taxes in five U.S. cities led to a significant increase in sugary drink prices and a corresponding decrease in sales by about one-third. The taxes, ranging from 1 to 2 cents per ounce, resulted in a 92% price pass-through rate from distributors to consumers and did not lead to increased cross-border shopping in untaxed areas. The decline in sugary drink consumption is expected to yield substantial health benefits, potentially reducing the incidence of heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and obesity, and lowering medical costs. Despite these findings, the beverage industry opposes such taxes, arguing they limit consumer choice and do not improve health outcomes.