Pro-con debate about soda taxes

This article from the Atlanta Journal presents two sides of the issue. The director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest says all those empty calories add up and taxing "liquid candy" would help reduce obesity and other health effects. The president of Coca-Cola North America said a tax would eliminate jobs and hurt the economy. She also said "No one single food or beverage is responsible for obesity" and almost 95 percent of calorie intake comes from foods other than beverages. The opinion pieces provide a look at the issue from different perspectives and will be useful in my research.

Sugar-sweetened taxes

Local communities and states are considering taxing sugar-sweetened beverages to "generate revenue, reduce consumption of unhealthy beverages and promote public health" (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 1). The research brief cites studies that show increasing prices can reduce consumption of certain foods. Some studies indicate that a 10-percent increase in costs could cut consumption of sugar-sweetened could reduce consumption by 8 percent to 11 percent. The brief also contains an extensive list of sources and will provide valuable information for my topic.

Soft drink taxes report

Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity released a report in 2009 that looked at the impact a national sales tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would have on sales and obesity. A one-cent tax would raise $14.9 billion in the first year. The money raised could be used for nutrition education and the tax hike would discourage the consumption of this liquid sugar and also encourage the development of healthier alternatives. The report also provides a variety of other resources and will be a good source for my paper.