Tax on soft drinks is supported by the majority of Mexicans

The epidemic of overweight and obesity in Mexico affects the majority of the population, and malnutrition impacts a high percentage of the poorest families, as well as the risks that these realities present for the population and the health and financial viability of our country.

Mexico City, October 16 (However).- The majority of Mexicans, more than 50 percent according to the conclusions of two different surveys carried out between September and October, support the federal government’s decision to increase the tax to the soft drinksas a measure aimed at discouraging consumption of sugary drinks which are an important factor in the development of overweight and the obesityassociated with diseases that cause nearly 41 thousand annual deaths of adults in Mexico.

In a survey on the soft drink consumption published by the consulting firm Enkoll on Friday, September 5, 2025, 99 percent of the people interviewed recognized that the consumption of soft drinks causes serious damage to healthwhile another demographic study carried out by the consulting firm Dinamia, for the organization Alianza por la Salud Alimentaria, published on Monday, October 13, 2025, warns that 97 percent of those surveyed accept that soft drinks do a lot of damage to people’s health.

In the Enkoll survey, 54 percent of those interviewed say they agree with an increase in the tax on soft drinks, something that the Chamber of Deputies of the Federation approved this Wednesday, October 15, 2025, while in Dinamia’s demoscopic exercise, 56 percent expressed their agreement with the increase in the tax on sugary drinks.

The Alliance for Food Health brings together a group of civil associations, social organizations and professionals concerned about the epidemic of overweight and obesity in Mexico, which affects the majority of the population, and malnutrition, which impacts a high percentage of the poorest families, as well as the risks that these realities present for the population and the health and financial viability of our country.

HIGH CONSUMPTION

40 percent of those surveyed by the Alliance for Food Health organization acknowledged that they consume soft drinks at least once a day. But in that same segment there are at least 13 percent who assume they drink two or more soft drinks every 24 hours. However, the average consumption of industrialized juices and nectars is also high.

Furthermore, 9 out of 10 interviewees believe that soft drinks and sugary drinks greatly affect the health of the population. While 85 percent consider that ultra-processed products also affect people a lot.

35 percent of people interviewed in the Food Health Alliance survey said they strongly agreed with the increase in the soda tax; 21 percent only somewhat agree, while 23 percent openly disagreed with the tax increase.

It is striking in the conclusions of this survey that 89 percent of people consider that in Mexico we do experience a national health emergency due to obesity and diabetes.

CONTEXT

The Economic package for 2026, published in the Parliamentary Gazette of the Chamber of Deputies on Monday, September 8, 2025, includes the initiative to reform the Special Tax Law on Production and Services, to tax flavored beverages with added sweeteners, within the definition of flavored beverages. Such flavored beverages may contain added natural or artificial sweeteners.

In the considerations for proposing the increase in the tax, it is pointed out that soft drinks are an important factor in the development of overweight and obesity; associated with about 41 thousand annual deaths of adults. The prevalence levels of overweight and obesity in Mexico are as follows: 6.7 percent for the population under 5 years of age; 34.2 percent for the school population from 6 to 11 years old; 38.1 percent for the population between 12 and 19 years old; and 76.2 percent for the adult population aged 20 years and older, according to the 2023 National Health and Nutrition Survey, prepared by the Ministry of Health.

The federal government initiative warns that it is essential to have public policies to achieve changes in the eating patterns of Mexican society considering that it is a heterogeneous market in which a wide variety of flavored beverage options are offered by the participants in this industry, which is why it is considered necessary to adjust the specific quota per liter for flavored beverages from $1.64 applicable in 2025 to $3.08 for 2026, in order to make These products are less affordable and thus contribute to reducing these levels of prevalence and obesity in our country.

Due to the above, it is proposed to adjust the quota that allows obtaining a tax burden of the Special Tax on Production and Services (IEPS) and Value Added Tax (VAT) of just over 22 percent on the public sale price of the presentation of the most marketed flavored drink. An increase of 1 peso in the final price observed in July 2025 of the best-selling cola drink in the 600 milliliter presentation was also proposed.

The federal government’s argument for increasing the tax on soft drinks points out that this type of beverage is the main source of added sugars in the Mexican population and has negative effects on health, by increasing the risk of suffering from chronic non-communicable diseases such as: type 2 diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, cerebral vascular disease, osteoarthritis, as well as breast cancer. esophagus, colon, endometrium, kidney, among others. Likewise, its frequent consumption promotes a harmful metabolic profile that includes insulin resistance, systemic inflammation and glycemic stress, even in people who are not overweight.

Based on these considerations, it is proposed to reform the Special Tax Law on Production and Services, to tax flavored beverages with added sweeteners, within the definition of flavored beverages. Such flavored beverages may contain added natural or artificial sweeteners.

SUPPORT WITHOUT DOUBTS

In the Enkoll survey published on Friday, September 5, 2025, more than a month ago, support for increasing the soda tax was already very broad. And the conclusions about consumption are worrying, since at least 29 percent of the population acknowledged that they drank soft drinks every day. Although most people recognized that sugary drinks cause a lot of harm.

The important thing is that people assume that the consumption of soft drinks is a problem and 54 percent said they agreed that the tax would be increased to inhibit consumption.

Faced with this situation, which would mean people would be economically affected by the increase in the price of soft drinks, there was a significant percentage of people who said they would reduce their consumption or stop drinking them, in short.

And of course, the majority of people interviewed by the consulting firm Enkoll said they agreed that the money that will be raised from the increase in the soda tax will be used to address the health of Mexicans.