• Jingxuan Wang, Yuchen Wei, Matteo M Galizzi, Hoi Shan Kwan, ZeeBenny Chung YingBCYSchool of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China., Hong Fung, Tony Ka Chun Yung, Eliza Lai Yi Wong, Qianying Yue, Michelle Kit Ling Lee, Yushan Wu, Kailu Wang, Hongjiang Wu, Eng Kiong Yeoh, and Ka Chun Chong.
• School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
• Prev Med. 2024 Jul 1; 184: 107994107994.

BackgroundThe potential health effects of taxing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been insufficiently examined in Asian contexts. This study aimed to assess the impact of SSB taxation on the prevalence of obesity/overweight and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Hong Kong using a willingness-to-pay (WTP) survey and simulation analysis.MethodsA random telephone survey was conducted with 1000 adults from May to June 2020. We used a contingent valuation approach to assess individuals' WTP for SSBs under four tax payment scenarios (5%, 10%, 40%, and 50% of the current market price). Based on the WTP, a simulation analysis was conducted to project changes in SSB purchase and associated reductions in the prevalence of obesity/overweight and T2DM over a 10-year simulation period.FindingsWhen 5% and 10% taxation rates were introduced, approximately one-third of the population were unwilling to maintain their SSB purchase. Our simulation demonstrated a gradual decline in the prevalence of obesity/overweight and diabetes with a more pronounced decrease when higher taxation rates were introduced. 10% taxation resulted in a mean reduction of 1532.7 cases of overweight/obesity per 100 thousand population at the sixth year, while T2DM prevalence decreased by 267.1 (0.3%).ConclusionsThis study underscores the effects of an SSB tax on purchase behaviors and health outcomes in an affluent Asia setting, with a more pronounced influence on adult population. These findings are expected to inform policymakers in making decisions regarding an effective and equitable tax rate on SSBs.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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