This paper examines how consumers respond to different forms of soda tax
information under tax-inclusive pricing. Using a randomized pre–post discrete choice
experiment (DCE) in China, we isolate informational effects while holding tax-inclusive prices
constant. Difference-in-differences comparisons and mixed logit estimates show that informing
consumers that the displayed soda price includes a soda tax reduces regular soda demand
relative to a price-only control group, while explicit disclosure of the tax amount produces
larger demand reductions and higher implied price elasticity. The estimates suggest that tax
information primarily reduces the perceived attractiveness of regular soda, whereas explicit tax
disclosure increases price sensitivity. These findings suggest that tax-inclusive pricing alone
may not ensure full tax salience and that disclosure design may complement corrective taxation
beyond the standard price effect.
