Soda taxes in five U.S. cities led to a 33% sales decline for sugary drinks, showing sustained impact over time, reveals study.
Big Drop in Sugary Drinks Sales Across Five U.S. Cities. (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Poppi)
Soda Taxes Work
According to MPR News, the “JAMA Health Forum” looked at what happens when cities put taxes on sodas. They found that in places like Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, and Boulder, there was a significant 33% decrease in sugary drink sales. This challenges what the soda industry has been saying about these taxes not making a difference and shows that they do help people make healthier choices.
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Checking Everywhere: Studying Many Cities to See If Soda Taxes Can Help Everywhere
The study’s lead, Scott Kaplan, wanted to see if the effects of soda taxes would be the same in different cities. With taxes ranging from 1 to 2 cents for every ounce of soda, the study found that prices went up by 33.1%, and people bought 33% less sugary drinks. This means that for every 1% increase in price, purchases fell by about 1%. The study helps us understand if these taxes could work on a larger scale, like in a whole state or even the whole country.
Keeping Us Healthy: Experts Say Sugary Drink Taxes Are a Good Idea
People like Jennifer Pomeranz from New York University say that putting taxes on sugary drinks is a good way to keep us healthy. These drinks don’t give us any good nutrition, and too much sugar is linked to problems like diabetes and obesity. The study supports the idea that these taxes can make a real difference in our health. With more support from health organizations, it might encourage more places to think about using soda taxes to help everyone stay healthier.
