Statewide policies to decrease sugar sweetened beverage consumption: An Oregon case study of HB 2644, HB 3222, and HB 3223

Upstream Public Health led a diverse coalition of organizations to advocate for three statewide bills all related to decreasing consumption of sugar sweetened beverages: 1) Oregon's HB2644 - establish a ½ cent tax per ounce on sugar sweetened beverages, and raise $200 million a biennium earmarked for obesity prevention programs; 2) HB 3223 - require a warning label on containers of high calorie beverages; and 3) HB 3222 - prohibit the sale of single serving of high calorie beverages in containers over 12 ounces.

According to Dr. Kelly Brownell, Director of the Rudd Center we now know that sugar sweetened beverages are the single largest driver of the obesity epidemic. In 2008, several cities and states across the country proposed policies to tax sugar sweetened beverages, but Oregon was the only state to also propose two additional innovative soda related policies – one to address portion sizes, and the other to warn customers of diet related disease linked to overconsumption. This case study will describe: 1) the three policies and nature of the debate within a broad coalition; 2) effective types of messages used to influence policymakers; 3) political challenges within the state legislature to passage; and 4) opportunities advocates have in passing policies to decrease sugar sweetened beverage consumption.

Participants attending the workshop will be able to 1) identify policies options to decrease soda consumption, 2) identify key messages and strategy components for success; 3) discuss the opportunities, challenges, and other lessons learned regarding sugar sweetened beverage policy proposals.