Taxes on sugary drinks had no effect on beverage calorie purchases from fast-food chain restaurants in the US, according to a study by Brian Elbel and Pasquale Rummo from NYU Grossman School of Medicine and colleagues published in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine.
Overall, the analysis found no significant association between sugary drink taxes and beverage calories per transaction, suggesting that sugary drink taxes of this size or alone may not substantially reduce beverage calorie consumption in fast food restaurant settings.
The authors note that consumer behaviour in restaurants—such as choosing combo meals or prioritising convenience—may limit the effectiveness of these policies.