Why tax sugary drinks?
Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are nonalcoholic beverages containing “free sugars,” including caloric sweeteners added to foods and beverages by the manufacturer, cook, or consumer (such as sucrose and high-strength corn syrup). in fructose), as well as natural sugars. present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit juice concentrates. Sugary drinks include soft drinks (carbonates), energy drinks, sports drinks, sweetened juices, ready-to-drink sweetened teas and coffees, sweetened milk-based drinks and sugared waters.
Sugary drinks contribute significantly to excess sugar and dietary energy intake in countries around the world, but provide little or no nutritional value. Their consumption is strongly linked to a range of adverse health effects, including tooth decay, excessive weight gain and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Taxation is a cost-effective tool for reducing sugary beverage consumption, with the potential for significant health, economic, and equity benefits. There is conclusive evidence that taxes on sugary drinks increase prices and reduce sales of taxed drinks, with emerging modeling and epidemiological evidence of their health benefits, particularly among adolescent girls.
