Taxing Sugar Sweetened Beverages to Lower Childhood Obesity

The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 44 (2016): 359-363

7 Pages Posted: 27 Aug 2016 Last revised: 10 Sep 2016

See all articles by Sarah Wetter

Sarah Wetter

Center for Health and Homeland Security, University of Maryland

James G. Hodge

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Date Written: June 30, 2016

Abstract

Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) contributes to multiple health problems including obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay, especially among children. Excise taxation has been proven efficacious in changing purchasing behaviors related to tobacco use with resulting improvements in public health outcomes. Similar taxes applied to SSBs are starting to take hold internationally and domestically. SSB taxes have been proposed in over 30 U.S. jurisdictions since 2009, but only Berkeley (CA) has passed and implemented one to date. Given empirical evidence of their effectiveness, governments should consider implementation of SSB excise taxes based on uniform definitions of SSBs and other factors.

Keywords: taxation, public health, sugar-sweetened beverages, policy, obesity

Suggested Citation

Wetter, Sarah and Hodge, James G., Taxing Sugar Sweetened Beverages to Lower Childhood Obesity (June 30, 2016). The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 44 (2016): 359-363, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2808811

Sarah Wetter

Center for Health and Homeland Security, University of Maryland ( email )

Baltimore, MD 21230
United States

James G. Hodge (Contact Author)

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law ( email )

Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
111 E. Taylor Street, MC 9520
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4467
United States
480-727-8576 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://law.asu.edu/degree-programs/public-health-law-policy

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