Xiaoyong Zheng, PhD, Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics at North Carolina State University, will present the EEEP Seminar Series, “The Unintended Consequences of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes on Sales and Prices of Beer Beverages” on March 25, 2026.
Abstract:
This paper estimates the causal effect of Berkeley’s sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax on beer purchases and prices using retail scanner data from 2014–2015. Applying both synthetic control and difference-in-differences (DID) approaches, we find that the tax reduced beer purchases within Berkeley by 8.9%, while having a negligible effect on beer prices. Mechanism analysis indicates that the decline in beer sales is driven primarily by cross-border shopping rather than a reduction in overall beer consumption.
Bio:
Dr. Zheng is a Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics at North Carolina State University. His research focuses on policy-relevant issues in agriculture, food, and the environment. His recent work examines topics such as food and nutrient demand, electric vehicles, and crop insurance.