Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41219911›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Facilitators and barriers of implementing sin-tax policies: a scoping review.

Marziyeh Najafi, Hamed Dehnavi, Lida Shams, Tejas Wakde, Roya Rajaee, Safoura Shahmoradi, Hamideh Javadinasab

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Marziyeh NajafiTDR Grantee at IIHMR University, Jaipur, India.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5445-2235
Hamed DehnaviSchool of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8183-4458
Lida ShamsSchool of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8518-8844
Tejas WakdeTDR Grantee at IIHMR University, Jaipur, India. Tejas.mphis02@iihmr.in.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-8077-2819
Roya RajaeeDepartment of Healthcare Management, Faculty of Management and Medical Information Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Rajaeeroya@ymail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1449-5775
Safoura ShahmoradiSecretaries of the Supreme Council for Health and Food Security, Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-8423-6335
Hamideh JavadinasabCenter for Primary Health Care Network Management, Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education., Tehran, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2558-460X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Sin taxes, or public health taxes, are excise taxes levied on goods that can harm health. These taxes aim to influence consumer behavior, enhance health outcomes, and generate revenue for health systems. While the effectiveness of sin taxes in influencing consumer behavior has been widely studied, there is limited synthesis of the barriers and facilitators to their implementation. This study specifically reviews these barriers and facilitators, providing insights into the successful sin-tax policy implementation. This study specifically reviews the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of sin-tax policies, focusing on the practical challenges to their adoption and enforcement. This scoping review was conducted in 2024. All documents related to Unhealthy product tax policies were identified using relevant keywords by searching four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) search engines. In the initial search, 1026 documents were extracted. Based on the selection criteria and reviewing full texts, 61 documents were selected for content analysis. Data analysis was performed using MAXQDA-20. The findings highlighted several barriers to the effective implementation of sin-tax policies. These included policy challenges, such as the influence of industrial lobbying and a lack of coordination among regulatory bodies; consumer-related barriers, like resistance to price increases and limited access to healthier alternatives; and industry-related issues, including the economic impact on businesses in regions dependent on unhealthy products. However, the review also identified key facilitators that could support successful implementation, including greater transparency, stronger community engagement, and the availability of affordable healthy alternatives. These factors could play a crucial role in overcoming the barriers to effective sin-tax policies. We should increase transparency, enhance cooperation, and improve access to healthy products to improve public health. Supporting the transition away from unhealthy options, raising awareness, involving communities, aiding low-income households, and promoting healthy alternatives are also crucial. Targeted subsidies and community engagement are vital to support low-income households impacted by taxes on unhealthy products. Raising public awareness can help shift cultural norms. A comprehensive approach that considers economic, social, and cultural factors is essential for establishing effective "sin taxes" that improve health outcomes and quality of life.

Indexed as

Health PolicyPublic HealthTaxesHumansPublic healthSin taxUnhealthy products

Identifiers

PMID41219911
PMCPMC12607088

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.