Philadelphia soda tax leads to pricier drinks, fewer sales 

Philadelphia’s tax of 1.5 cents per ounce on sugary beverages raised the overall price of the drinks and meant that people bought fewer such beverages, according to a new study. Here’s what else you need to know:

• The study design: Researchers looked at nearly 300 stores and assessed the changes in price and sale of sugary drinks before and after a tax was imposed in January 2017. They also examined whether people traveled to surrounding areas to buy sodas. That data was compared to Baltimore, which doesn’t have a soda tax.
• The findings: The average increase in price due to the tax ranged from around 20 cents to more than $1. In Philadelphia, the volume of such drinks being sold dropped by 51%, although sales in surrounding areas increased, making the total drop closer to 38%.
• A caveat: The study only included data from chain stores — such as supermarkets or pharmacies — which account for about a quarter of beverages sold in the area.