EXPERT REACTION: Taxing sugary drinks packs a punch on sales
Meta-analysis: This type of study involves using statistics to combine the data from multiple previous studies to give an overall result. The reliability of a meta-analysis depends on both the quality and similarity of the individual studies being grouped together.
Systematic review: This type of study is a structured approach to reviewing all the evidence to answer a specific question. It can include a meta-analysis which is a statistical method of combining the data from multiple studies to get an overall result.
Taxing sugary drinks is linked to 15% lower sales on average, according to an extensive review of policies from around the world enacting taxes on the sweet stuff. More than 45 countries have taxed sugary drinks but New Zealand and Australia have not. Researchers analysed dozens of studies across 12 countries and five US states, showing that taxes are linked with price hikes and fewer sales of these drinks, without affecting beverage manufacturing jobs. However, more study is needed to understand the effects of these taxes on people's diet and health.
Journal/conference: JAMA Network Open
Link to research (DOI): doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.15276
Organisation/s: University of Connecticut, US; Brandeis University, US; University of Illinois at Chicago, US;
News for:
International
Media contact details for this story are only visible to registered journalists.
Expert Reaction
These comments have been collated by the Science Media Centre to provide a variety of expert perspectives on this issue. Feel free to use these quotes in your stories. Views expressed are the personal opinions of the experts named. They do not represent the views of the SMC or any other organisation unless specifically stated.