One of three adults in Mexico is obese, therefore, policies to reduce overweight and obesity prevalence in the country were designed. The use of fiscal policy was proposed as a way to discourage the consumption of soft drinks and raise funds to pay health services used by obese patients. The aim of this chapter, published in 2012, was to open the debate on the use of fiscal policy as a tool for the prevention of overweight and obesity in Mexico. Arguments for and against fiscal policies are discussed and outlined. The case of the soft drinks market is examined and the challenges for the design and implementation of a tax policy are discussed.
The evidence presented in this chapter shows that tax policies are just one of the many tools that can be used to modify the consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages. However, its effect is limited if not accompanied by other measures, such as improving access and availability of healthy goods, advertising, and product labeling
