Three types of taxes on sodas and other sugar-sweetened drinks could help prevent heart attacks, strokes and diabetes while also lowering health care costs, according to a new simulation model.
Sugary drinks are the largest source of added sugars in U.S. diets, with about 60% of children and half of adults consuming them every day. Frequent intake of these sugar-laden drinks is linked to weight gain, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Boston researchers looked at these tax models:
– drink volume at a penny per ounce
– a tax on three tiers of sugar content, up to 2 cents an ounce for more than 20 grams in each eight ounces
– a fixed penny per teaspoon of added sugars, regardless of the number of ounces
All three tax structures would generate revenue, lower health care costs and prevent cardiovascular disease events and diabetes cases, researchers said. They said the tiered and sugar content taxes could generate the largest health gains and cost savings.