Sugary drinks taxes could reduce diabetes, obesity

Taxing soda and other sugary drinks could help cities reduce diabetes and obesity and generate millions of dollars for health programs, according to a study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Researchers created a computer model to project the impact of 1-cent-per-ounce sugary beverage tax in 15 major cities across the U.S. They said that the tax would lead to a 16.3% cost increase for sugary drinks and a 20% drop in soda consumption.

Some U.S. cities, including Berkeley, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, have already adopted sugary drink taxes.

“Once people start realizing they are spending so much on something that is not really good for them, people are shifting to other beverages,” said lead researcher Steven Gortmaker, professor of the practice of health sociology at Harvard Chan School, in a December 14, 2016 Baltimore Sun article.

Read the Baltimore Sun article: Harvard study says soda tax would have health benefit if implemented in Baltimore

Learn more

Sugary beverage taxes good for public health, reduce health care spending (Harvard Chan School news)

Spotlight on Soda (The Nutrition Source)