Nancy Brown, CEO at the American Heart Association (AHA), recently issued comments supporting the taxation of sugary drinks based on the amount of sugar they contain.
The issue has come to the forefront because of the negative effects sugar has on heart and brain health. In fact, sugary drinks are the number-one source of added sugar in the average American diet.
“This year, local governments across the country proved that taxes on sugary drinks have public support and are a smart way to increase revenue for health-promoting programs,” Brown said. “This report provides new insights for elected officials to consider in their efforts to decrease the health harms of sugary drinks. A key finding demonstrates that taxing sugary drinks based on sugar content may be an effective approach to achieve better health and expand healthier options. Taxes linked to the amount of sugar incentivizes the beverage industry to reformulate and shift product lines towards lower-sugar products.”
The AHA hired experts from the Urban Institute to conduct a study that provides options for elected officials who want to improve health by encouraging healthier drink options.
Brown’s full comments can be found on the AHA website.
