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Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes

Sugar-sweetened beverages (also known as soft drinks) are those sweetened with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or any other caloric sweetener. The beverages include soda, sports drinks, sweet teas and coffees, flavored waters, fruit drinks, and energy drinks. Taxes would also apply to syrups which are used in soda-dispensing machines.

Sugar-sweetened beverages with little or no nutritional value and a significant number of calories are staples of today's American diet. These beverages are inexpensive, in abundant supply, and appeal to our taste for sugar. They are heavily marketed, especially to children, often using celebrities, sports stars, and cartoon characters. More than for any category of foods, rigorous scientific studies have shown that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with poor diet, increasing rates of obesity, and risk for diabetes. These links are strong for children. Chronic diseases related to poor diet cost the country billions of health care dollars each year and are complex problems which must be addressed with multifaceted strategies. Taxing certain classes of products to reduce consumption has been proposed as one such strategy. 

Policy makers and pubic health professionals across the country who are concerned about nutrition are considering the implementation of taxes on sugar-sweetened beverates to complement other public health initiatives.

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