SFMS Endorses Local Soda Tax Proposal March 11, 2016 Advocacy, News, Public Health soda tax, sugar sweetened beverages 0 The SFMS board of directors has unanimously endorsed the proposal to institute a penny-per-ounce soda tax in San Francisco. Public signature-gathering for this proposed legislation in currently underway. The arguments for taxing soda are best covered in detail in “The Public Health and Economic Benefits of Taxing Sugar-Sweetened Beverages,” Brownell et al, N Engl J Med 2009; 361:1599-1605. The rise in obesity among both American children and adults presents a looming health disaster, but also an economic one. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease and more are linked to overconsumption of sugar, soda is a leading source of dietary sugar, and these problems are steadily worsening. $41 billion is spent treating obesity in our state annually. Taxes can not only decrease consumption, but the revenues may be used for education to prevent overconsumption and to treat related conditions. San Francisco’s previous 2014 attempt to institute a $0.02/ounce soda tax was defeated even though a majority of voters—56%--favored it, as a two-thirds majority was required. Changes in the new proposal would require just a majority, and thus proponents—a broad coalition of health groups—are optimistic that it will pass if enough signatures are gathered to qualify it for a the November ballot. The tax would be levied on beverage distributors, not consumers. A 15-member Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax Advisory Committee, including physicians, would advise the mayor and supervisors “to fund programs to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in San Francisco and to address the effect of such consumption.” The soda industry is a multi-billion dollar interest that spends hugely to market soda and is expected to mimic the tobacco industry in its opposition to this proposal. They spent over $9 million to defeat it last time. Respected medical and public health voices are crucial in such battles, and the SFMS is proud to join in this effort on behalf of patients and the public. Click here for more information about the negative impacts of sugar consumption. Click here to learn more about the initiative. Comments are closed.
