Abstract
Early Results from Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes in the Bay Area
Kristine Madsen, MD, MPH and Jennifer Falbe, ScD, MPH
University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
APHA's 2018 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 10 - Nov. 14)
Introduction: In July 2017, Oakland California implemented a 1-cent per ounce excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). We sought to evaluate the tax’s impact on SSB prices and consumption.
Methods: Using a repeated cross-sectional design, we examined changes in pre-to-post-tax beverage consumption in low-income neighborhoods in Oakland versus in 2 nearby comparison cities (San Francisco and Richmond). A beverage frequency questionnaire was interview-administered among 1,272 participants pre-tax (summer 2016) and 2,034 participants 3 months post-implementation of Oakland’s tax (summer 2017). Across the cities, prices of approximately 30 popular SSBs and non-SSBs were collected from 147 randomly selected stores pre-tax (spring 2017), 5 months post Oakland’s tax (fall 2017), and 5 months post San Francisco’s tax (spring 2018) stratified by store type (e.g., corner stores, supermarkets, drugstores).
Results: We are analyzing the data and will present results on changes in prices in Oakland and San Francisco relative to control cities, and changes in consumption in Oakland relative to control cities. Generalized linear models with a log link function and robust standard errors will examine relative changes in consumption, controlling for race, sex, and education level. Difference-difference models will assess tax pass-through (change in price in Oakland vs. non-tax cities).
Discussion: We will place the results in the context of the effects of earlier taxes in Berkeley and in Mexico. As part of a larger panel, the results from the present study will help to provide a robust and complete picture of the early impacts of SSB taxes locally, nationally, and globally.
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Abstract
Assessing the Impact of the Cook County Beverage Tax on Prices
Lisa Powell, PhD, Julien Leider, MA, Zeynep Isgor, PhD and Shannon N. Zenk, PhD, MPH, FAAN
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
APHA's 2018 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 10 - Nov. 14)
Introduction: A beverage tax of 1-cent per ounce was implemented in Cook County, IL on August 2nd, 2017 and repealed effective December 1, 2017. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the Cook County, IL, tax on prices of taxed beverage products and non-taxed beverage and food products.
Methods: This study used a pre-post intervention and matched comparison site difference-in-differences (DID) research design to evaluate the impact of the tax on prices. Prices were collected using food store audit surveys in Cook County, IL and St. Louis city/county, MO, for 90 unique taxed beverage products and 30 and 18 non-taxed beverage and food products, respectively, observed in 60-61 food stores in each site both pre (June 2017) and post-tax (November 2017) implementation. Based on non-missing observations, we observed more than 20,000 price observations stacked across stores, sites, and data collection periods. DID regressions controlled for store type, package size, and neighborhood socioeconomic and demographic characteristics.
Results: Preliminary unweighted DID regression results reveal full pass-through of the beverage tax to higher prices of the taxed beverage products (pass-through was higher for energy drink and soda products). No significant changes in prices were observed for untaxed beverage products such as water. Similarly, no significant changes were observed in the prices of untaxed food products audited such as for snacks and sweets.
Discussion: Preliminary results suggest that the Cook County, IL, beverage tax was, on average, fully passed-through to higher beverage prices of taxed products with no impact on non-taxed products.
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines Public health or related public policy Public health or related research
Abstract
Short-term effects on prices and child beverage consumption and diet quality of a sugary beverage tax in Seattle
Brian Saelens, PhD1, Jessica Jones-Smith, PhD2, Maya Rowland, MPH1, Lina Walkinshaw, MPH2, James Krieger, MD, MPH2, Nadine Chan, PhD3, Vanessa Oddo, PhD2 and Marian Neuhouser, PhD2
(1)Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, (2)University of Washington, Seattle, WA, (3)Public Health - Seattle and King County, Seattle, WA
APHA's 2018 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 10 - Nov. 14)
Introduction: Limited evidence exists regarding sugary beverage tax (SBT) effects on children’s beverage consumption or diet quality.
Methods: We are using a quasi-experimental longitudinal cohort design with planned repeated measurement at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months to examine Seattle’s SBT (1.75 cents/ounce launched January 2018) impacts on beverage prices and child beverage consumption and diet quality. Children (7-17 years old) and a parent living in Seattle or non-SBT cities within King County (comparison) completed a modified Bev-Q, the Dietary Screener Questionnaire, and a demographics surveys. Lower income families and children who were sugary beverage consumers completed baseline surveys through January 2018 (n=274 in Seattle; n=287 in comparison area). We collected prices of 22 taxed beverages, 24 untaxed sugar-free or diet beverages, and 8 untaxed added-sugar beverages (e.g., flavored milk) within a geographically balanced sample of food stores, coffee shops, and quick service restaurants in Seattle (n= 226) and comparison areas (n=232) before SBT implementation.
Results: In June 2018, we will initiate re-contacting families to complete 6-month beverage consumption and child diet quality surveys and return to the same food establishments. We will present difference-in-difference results from baseline to 6-month changes in beverage prices, child consumption of taxed and un-taxed beverages (oz/day), and child diet quality (grams of added sugar/day) in Seattle versus comparison areas.
Discussion: Our study is among the first to examine tax impacts on children and the extent to which the SBT increases shelf price – a key determinant of the effect of taxes on consumption.
Chronic disease management and prevention Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines Public health or related public policy
Abstract
Global spread of sugar sweetened beverage taxes and evaluation research to date
Lynn Silver, MD, MPH
Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA
APHA's 2018 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 10 - Nov. 14)
Introduction: Significant taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has spread rapidly in the US and globally. Progress in dissemination and the status of impact assessments is reviewed.
Approach: Policy dissemination will be described based on monitoring over the past decade using global databases, complemented by non-communicable disease network exchange, and tracking by the author through personal communications. Policies are characterized in relation to the tax size, design, covered products, and use of funds. Published impact assessments have been collected through monitoring of the literature and through NCD and fiscal policy networks. Impact on prices, sales and consumption from published studies from Mexico, and emerging evidence from other countries will be summarized and compared to US findings.
Results: In 2016-2018 alone, SSB taxes spread to 19 countries and cities. Tax rates vary widely, from about 10% up to 40% in India and 100% on energy drinks in Saudi Arabia. Some tax SSBs alone, others only carbonated beverages, and yet others include diet drinks. Evaluations have generally found partial to complete tax pass-through, greatest for carbonated drinks, approximately confirmed or exceeded previous price elasticity estimates, and shown declines in SSB sales and consumption, with greater effects in low-income groups. Negative impact on food sector employment has not been found.
Discussion: SSB taxes, a revenue generating, scalable, non-communicable disease prevention policy, are disseminating globally, now reaching over 1 billion people in 6 continents. Impact evaluation to date suggests partial to complete pass through and expected or greater reductions in SSB sales.
Advocacy for health and health education Biostatistics, economics Chronic disease management and prevention Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines Public health or related public policy