Evaluating Saudi Arabia’s 50% carbonated drink excise tax: changes in prices and volume sales

•Saudi Arabia introduced an 50 % ad valorem excise tax on carbonated drinks in 2017.•Carbonated drinks’ tax pass through rate is 110 % (+0.82 Saudi Riyal; p-value <0.05)•Carbonated drink volume sales decreased by 35 % relative to other Arab Gulf states.