What in the World Why are some sugary drinks more expensive?
Dec 1, 2025
Maria Clara Montoya, a journalist and producer, and Elisa Pineda, a researcher at The George Institute for Global Health, dive into the world of sugar taxes. They explore how these taxes aim to reduce sugary drink consumption amid rising health concerns like obesity and diabetes. Maria highlights consumer reactions in Mexico, while Elisa shares successes in the UK, showing significant purchase drops. They also discuss potential expansions of sugar taxes to ultra-processed foods and address fairness concerns among lower-income groups.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
How Sugar Taxes Work
- Sugar taxes add a direct extra price to drinks with added sugar to discourage consumption.
- Governments use price signals rather than income-based rules to shift buying behaviour.
Why Drinks Are The Focus
- Sugar taxes usually target sugary drinks because liquids deliver sugar rapidly and in large amounts.
- Sweets and chocolate are taxed differently and not usually included in these drink-focused schemes.
Global Momentum Since WHO Guidance
- WHO guidelines prompted countries to act after recommending free sugar intake under ~10% of daily calories.
- Many countries began taxing sugary drinks in the 2010s and now more than 120 have such policies.