Soda tax brings sharp fall in sugary drink consumption in Californian city

Consumption of soda and other sugary beverages in low income neighbourhoods of the US city of Berkeley, California, fell by 21% after the city imposed a “penny per ounce” tax on sugar sweetened beverages, a study has found.1 The observed decline was more than double the predicted 10% reduction, the researchers noted.

The tax, which was passed in November 2014 and implemented in March 2015, applied to sugar sweetened sodas, fruit flavoured drinks, and sweetened water, coffee, and tea …