Exploring the Public Health and Financial Implications of Taxing Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

A collection of research briefs, journal articles and online resources explore the possible health and economic impacts of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.

  • Published: 12/2/2009

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has funded multiple studies, research briefs and other resources examining the issue of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes. The resources listed below explore a variety of related topics, including the role sugar-sweetened beverages play in the childhood obesity epidemic, whether and how taxes could affect consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, the potential impact on obesity rates, the amount of revenue that could be generated by such taxes, and the differential impact of such taxes on households of different income levels.

New Study Predicts Nationwide Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Would Prevent Thousands of Heart Attacks, Strokes and Cases of Diabetes (January 2012)

Sugary Drink FACTS: Evaluating Sugary Drink Nutrition and Marketing to Youths (Rudd, October 2011)

Report Examines Business Practices of U.S. Beverage Industry (NPLAN, October 2011)

State-by-State Soda Tax Rates and Soda Tax Map (Bridging the Gap, Fall 2011)

Introduction: Health Policy and Sugar Sweetened Beverages (Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Summer 2011)

  • Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Obesity Prevention (Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Summer 2011)
  • Are Soft Drink Taxes an Effective Mechanism for Reducing Obesity? (Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Summer 2011)
  • The Proof is in the Pudding (Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Summer 2011)
  • Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Obesity Prevention (Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Summer 2011)
  • RWJF-Funded Scholars Debate Whether Soda Taxes Help Curb Obesity (Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Summer 2011)

Estimating the Potential of Taxes on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages to Reduce Consumption and Generate Revenue (Journal of Preventive Medicine, June 2011)

Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Black Americans (AACORN, January 2011)

Impact of Targeted Beverage Taxes on Higher-and Lower-Income Households (Archives of Internal Medicine, December 2010)

Soda Taxes, Soft Drink Consumption and Children’s Body Mass Index (Health Affairs, April 2010)

Taxing Soft Drinks and Restricting Access to Vending Machines to Curb Child Obesity (Health Affairs, April 2010)

The Negative Impact of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages on Children's Health (Healthy Eating Research, December 2009)

Soft Drink Taxes: A Policy Brief (Rudd, Fall 2009)

The Public Health and Economic Benefits of Taxing Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (The New England Journal of Medicine, September 16, 2001)

New Online Tool Offers Estimates of Revenue from Taxes on Soft Drinks (Rudd, September 2009)

Adolescent Obesity: Towards Evidence-Based Policy and Environment Solutions (Journal of Adolescent Health, September 2009)

Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes and Public Health (Healthy Eating Research and Bridging the Gap, July 2009)

Increasing Caloric Contribution From Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and 100% Fruit Juices Among US Children and Adolescents, 1988-2004 (Pediatrics, June 2008)

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