By Pam Bonney
Hi everyone!
I wanted to share my thoughts about a recent editorial from the New York Times (What a Big Tax on Soft Drinks Can Do– 10/19/15).
Overconsumption of sugary beverages is a global problem and the overdose of sugar consumption in the American diet is a major contributing cause of this country’s alarming rate of obesity. Unfortunately, we exist in a time in which we are drinking most of our calories.
Consuming large quantities of sugary drinks can dramatically increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and other chronic diseases. One significant intervention that must be considered is to increase the retail price of sugary drinks. As the Times editors described, Mexico levied a peso per liter tax in 2013, and sales of sugary beverages were reduced by 12 percent when compared with the previous year.
New York leaders could certainly improve public health by following Mexico’s lead and implement an excise tax on sugary drinks. Such a tax is a necessary tool to motivate healthier beverage selection. Imagine the impact to our health and our economy!
What do you think? Should New York State implement an excise tax on sugary drinks?
Pamela Bonney, MS, RD, CDN, is a member of our New York Advocacy Committee, and is also a Nutrition and Health Consultant and Co-founder, Tried and True Nutrition, Inc.