Assessing the Effectiveness and Sustainability of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax in the African Context: A Systematic Review of Evidence

Title: Assessing the effectiveness and sustainability of sugar-sweetened beverage tax in the African context: a systematic review of evidence Abstract Introduction: The World Health Organisation (WHO) and health advocates have called on governments to introduce a sugar tax to reduce the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), prevent obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Despite efforts to introduce the sugar tax, there is limited data on the effectiveness and sustainability of the sugar tax, especially in the African continent. A review of literature indicates that sustainable consumption may be attained through positive behavioural change techniques. Methodology: We conducted a systematic review to identify studies from Africa and select countries across the world from 2014-2024, to determine the effectiveness and the sustainability of the sugar tax on beverage intake in the African context. The selection of studies was based on their report of the sustainability of sugar tax, decline in beverage products high in sugar content, the effectiveness of sugar tax in reducing the intake of SSBs, reformulation of sugary beverages, and public acceptability of the tax. Conclusion: There is evidence that the introduction of the sugar tax has resulted in a decrease in the intake of SSBs in some African countries, for example, South Africa and Mauritius. The majority of countries in Africa have not introduced the tax. The failure or non-introduction of the tax in Africa is synonymous to some countries across the globe. In addition, limited studies have reported on the sustainability and the effectiveness of the sugar tax in the African continent. Keywords: sugar tax, sugar-sweetened beverages, sustainable consumption, effective sugar tax Authors: Rawlings Obenembot Enowkenwa and Fortune Ganda. Affiliations: Dr. R.O. Enowkenwa and Prof F. Ganda are lecturers and senior lecturer, respectively, at the Department of Management, Accounting & Finance at the Faculty of Economics and Financial Sciences at Walter Sisulu University (WSU).