The South African government first proposed a 20% sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax in 2016. However, after extensive consultations with the beverage and sugar industries, the levy was reduced to approximately 10%, coming into effect in April 2018. Despite this lower rate, studies up to April 2021 show that the HPL has led to significant reductions in SSB consumption, particularly among low-income groups and populations with high SSB intake. These findings suggest that the levy has been effective in improving health equity. The Healthy Living Alliance’s (HEALA) released its fourth episode of the thought-provoking web series, Chew on This. The episode titled “Is the Sugar Industry Lying to Us?", critically examines the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) on sugary beverages, introduced to reduce sugar consumption and improve public health. Joining us to educate us more about this series we’re joined by Prof Sue Goldstein, a public health medicine specialist, and MD of the SAMRC/Wits Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science (PRICELESS SA).

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