Journal article
The Short-Term Impacts of the Philadelphia Beverage Tax on Beverage Consumption
American journal of preventive medicine, v 55(1), pp 26-34
01 Jul 2018
PMID: 29656917
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Introduction: On January 1, 2017, Philadelphia implemented a beverage tax of $0.015/ounce on sugar ("regular") and sugar-substitute ("diet") beverages. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate impact of the tax on residents' consumption of soda, fruit drinks, energy drinks, and bottled water.
Methods: A repeat cross-sectional study design used data from a random-digit-dialing phone survey during a no-tax period (December 6-31, 2016) and a tax period (January 15-February 31, 2017) among 899 respondents in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and 878 respondents in three nearby comparison cities. Survey questions included frequency and volume of bottled water and beverages. Outcomes were daily consumption, and 30-day consumption frequency and volume. Propensity score-weighted difference-in-differences regression was used to control for secular time trend and confounding. Covariates were sociodemographics, BMI, health status, smoking, and alcohol use. Analyses were conducted in 2017.
Results: Within the first 2 months of tax implementation, relative to the comparison cities, in Philadelphia the odds of daily consumption of regular soda was 40% lower (OR=0.6, 95% CI=0.37, 0.97); energy drink was 64% lower (OR=0.36, 95% CI=0.17, 0.76); bottled water was 58% higher (OR=1.58, 95% CI=1.13, 2.20); and the 30-day regular soda consumption frequency was 38% lower (ratio of consumption frequency=0.62, 95% CI=0.40, 0.98).
Conclusions: Early results suggest that the tax influenced daily consumption of regular soda, energy drinks, and bottled water. Future studies are needed to evaluate longer-term impact of the tax on sugared beverage consumption and substitutions.
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Details
- Title
- The Short-Term Impacts of the Philadelphia Beverage Tax on Beverage Consumption
- Creators
- Yichen Zhong - Drexel UniversityAmy H. Auchincloss - Drexel University, Urban Health CollaborativeBrian K. Lee - Drexel University, Epidemiology and BiostatisticsGenevieve P. Kanter - University of Pennsylvania
- Publication Details
- American journal of preventive medicine, v 55(1), pp 26-34
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- Dean's Strategic Initiatives Fund at the Dana and David Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000436429000006
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85045348773
- Other Identifier
- 991021883815704721
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- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health