TY - JOUR
T1 - An examination of Ireland’s sugar sweetened beverage tax (sugar tax) in practice
AU - Houghton, Frank
AU - Stritch, Jennifer Moran
AU - Nwanze, Loveth
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health.
PY - 2023/9/1
Y1 - 2023/9/1
N2 - Background In the face of rising obesity levels, Ireland introduced a sugar sweetened beverage tax (SSBT) in 2018, the scope of which was extended in 2019. To date, there is a dearth of research on the actual impact of the SSBT on the pricing. Method This study involved an examination of the relative cost of leading brand full-sugar and sugar-free carbonated soft drinks in a convenience sample of 14 different Irish supermarkets. In light of manufacturers’ reformulation of certain brands (7UP, Sprite and Fanta), information was collected on the relative in-store pricing of three brands (Coca Cola, Pepsi and Club). Results In-store comparisons of equivalent size and unit number indicate that, in ∼60% of cases, the full-sugar and sugar-free versions of the same drink are being offered at the same price. Even when full-sugar versions of these brands were more expensive than the sugar-free alternatives, the price differential was sometimes less than the SSBT rate. Conclusions The pass-through rate of the SSBT to consumers is sub-optimal. Future policy and research suggestions are outlined.
AB - Background In the face of rising obesity levels, Ireland introduced a sugar sweetened beverage tax (SSBT) in 2018, the scope of which was extended in 2019. To date, there is a dearth of research on the actual impact of the SSBT on the pricing. Method This study involved an examination of the relative cost of leading brand full-sugar and sugar-free carbonated soft drinks in a convenience sample of 14 different Irish supermarkets. In light of manufacturers’ reformulation of certain brands (7UP, Sprite and Fanta), information was collected on the relative in-store pricing of three brands (Coca Cola, Pepsi and Club). Results In-store comparisons of equivalent size and unit number indicate that, in ∼60% of cases, the full-sugar and sugar-free versions of the same drink are being offered at the same price. Even when full-sugar versions of these brands were more expensive than the sugar-free alternatives, the price differential was sometimes less than the SSBT rate. Conclusions The pass-through rate of the SSBT to consumers is sub-optimal. Future policy and research suggestions are outlined.
KW - Keywords Ireland
KW - SSBT
KW - pass-through rate
KW - price
KW - sugar sweetened beverage tax
KW - sugar tax
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85169291041&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/pubmed/fdad097
DO - 10.1093/pubmed/fdad097
M3 - Article
C2 - 37340469
AN - SCOPUS:85169291041
SN - 1741-3842
VL - 45
SP - E551-E556
JO - Journal of Public Health (United Kingdom)
JF - Journal of Public Health (United Kingdom)
IS - 3
ER -