Strategic management of sugar-sweetened beverage tax policy adoption: From policy deadlock to policy change

Despite global evidence supporting sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxation, adoption is politically complex. Indonesia experienced a prolonged policy deadlock between 2019 and 2024 before agreeing to implement an SSB tax in 2026. While existing studies focus on public health and economic outcomes, this study examines the strategic management processes shaping this transition. Using a systematic literature review (SLR) of 37 studies and comparative analyses of Mexico, the United Kingdom (UK), Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Indonesia, we identify three critical strategic mechanisms enabling adoption: 1) reframing policy discourse into an integrated fiscal-health narrative; 2) consolidating cross-sectoral coalitions and governance networks; and 3) leveraging techno-political leadership. This study integrates strategic management concepts with public policy frameworks (multiple streams framework [MSF], advocacy coalition framework [ACF], discursive institutionalism) to explain policy change in complex governance environments, offering practical insights for sustainable health fiscal reforms.