In 2013, the Mexican government voted to implement an excise tax on sugar-sweetened drinks and on several energy-dense foods. This represented an approximate 10 percent increase in price of all nondairy and nonalcoholic beverages with added sugar and an 8 percent increase on a list of nonessential highly energy-dense foods.

The tax, which was implemented Jan. 1, 2014, was a clear directive from health policy leaders to reduce the high consumption of sugar by Mexican citizens. Considering Mexico boasted the highest consumption of sugary drinks in the world, they knew the world would be watching to see if it was effective.

According to a new report in The BMJ (formerly The British Medical Journal), the increase in price has been effective, at least in the short term. By mid-2014, there was an average decline of 6 percent in the purchase of sugary drinks. And the decline of purchases accelerated, ending the year with a 12 percent drop in purchases.

The largest reduction was noted in homes of low socioeconomic status with an initial reduction of 9.1 percent, capping out at 17.4 percent. Conversely, there was a 4 percent increase in the purchases of untaxed beverages, namely bottled water.

As the largest consumers of sugary drinks, Mexico's citizens also have the highest child obesity rate in the world at 35 percent and an adult rate of 32.5 percent. Therefore, it is no surprise that the prevalence of diabetics in Mexico is the highest among the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development counties.

With ischemic heart disease and diabetes as the two leading causes of death in Mexico, reducing the consumption of sugary drinks and snacks became a high priority. The tax was an effort to curb the intake of unnecessary calories, especially in light of the fact that people generally do not reduce food intake when consuming caloric beverages.

This is not the first effort by the Mexican government to attempt to curb the consumption of empty calories.

In Mexico City, initiatives were implemented to clean up the drinking supply. With most residents opting for bottled water, restaurants were required to install filters in 2014 to assist in promoting the city's clean-water supply. It is no secret that Mexico's water supply has been a concern, with tourists frequently being advised to only drink bottled water while in the country.

Although efforts continue to be made, most still feel the water supply is suspect for most of the country. Therefore, access to clean water will persist as a roadblock for all citizens to transition away from sugary drinks and sodas as a hydration source. The president of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, has pledged an estimated 15 billion pesos a year (approximately $1.1 billion) to fund better drinking water in schools.

The long-term effects of the sugar tax will continue to be watched by health policymakers. More than 30 U.S. cities have attempted to pass such a tax, with Berkeley, California, being the only successful municipality. Other states and municipalities have attempted such taxes — most notably New York City — however, with strong lobbying oppositions from beverage companies, none have been successful.

Although the initial results are promising, only time will show if Mexico's efforts have been effective long-term. Most acknowledge this is not the silver bullet that will solve all of Mexico's health concerns, but many hope this will certainly be a step in the right direction for generations to come.

And the world will be watching again.