A rationale for taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages

Taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are being considered in cities and states around the country, at the federal level in the United States, and in countries outside the United States. A strong rationale exists for such taxes based on key facts: SSBs are the single greatest source of added sugar in the American diet; calories delivered in liquids appear to thwart the body's calorie-sensing mechanisms; there is relentless marketing of SSBs, with children and other vulnerable populations being targeted; and taxes have been highly effective with problems such as tobacco. Both the beverage industry and the public health community have been actively framing the debate recently, with the American Beverage Association's “Americans Against Food Taxes” campaign and New York City's “Don't Pour on the Pounds” campaign as two salient examples. Kelly Brownell will discuss the current state of the public health literature on the relationship between SSBs and obesity. He will also analyze the framing of the issue.