Why Taxes on Soda Make Sense

Sometimes, a sin tax is the path to a big public good.

April 10, 2009 at 8:48AM by Marion Nestle | comment

Kelly Brownell of the Yale Rudd Center and Tom Friedan of the New York City Health Department write that taxes on sodas make sense (pdf) as a way to get people to consume less of them (New England Journal of Medicine, April 8).

Cutting down on sugary drinks is the first thing to do to control weight.

Brownell and Friedan lay out the arguments for and against soda taxes and conclude that this approach has significant potential for improving health. Take a look at the paper and see if you agree.

In the meantime, Corby Kummer at the Atlantic Food Channel writes about what’s happening in Washington on this very issue. And David Katz responds to comments from the Beverage Association about the paper (hint: they didn’t like it).

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tags: soda, obesity, sin tax, public health

Marion Nestle

Noted author Marion Nestle is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University. She is the author of What to Eat.
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