Resource Pack: SSB Excise Tax Briefs (CHOICES)

Rising rates of obesity represent one of the greatest public health threats facing the United States. Obesity has been linked to excess consumption of sugary drinks. Federal, state, and local governments have considered implementing excise taxes on sugary drinks to reduce consumption, reduce obesity, and provide a new source of government revenue. This resource pack includes a series of briefs describing analyses conducted by the Childhood Obesity Intervention Cost-Effectiveness Study (CHOICES), evaluating the health and economic impact of a sugary drink excise tax. 

To evaluate the benefits, costs, and cost-effectiveness of prevention and treatment strategies, the CHOICES Project uses a simulation model representative of the U.S. population to track individuals over time as they grow and incur obesity-related health outcomes and expenditures. Data such as height, weight, food intake, and physical activity are synthesized from multiple sources including the U.S. Census and National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES).

The CHOICES Project uses this virtual U.S. population to simulate baseline projections against which it can compare the costs and effects of specific interventions, such as a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) excise tax. Analytic outcomes include the reduction of childhood and adult obesity, diabetes, and dental decay, the increase in healthy life years, and averted future health care costs.

The CHOICES Learning Collaborative Partnership (LCP) is one way in which the CHOICES team works with health agencies to create new evidence to inform decision-making.