The policy of local taxpayment of one cent per ounce on soda and sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) wasapproved in November 2016 in San Francisco, California to reduce the public’s exposureto obesity and type 2 diabetes. This is a state level policy and will beimplemented from January 2018 onwards. Distributors of SSBs in San Francisco will be responsible for payingthis tax; the tax will not apply to retail sales of SSBs1. Abeverage that contains added sugar and 25 or more calories per 12 ounces is asugar sweetened beverage1. This includes few soft drinks, sportsdrinks, iced tea, juice drinks and energy drinks1. The tax will alsobe applied on syrups and powders that can be turned into SSBs. Approximately12 percent of adults in California consume soda at least once per day2.
Berkeley passed a similar local sodatax in 2014 in the United States. Soda and SSBs may not be the only cause ofobesity, however, the consumptionof beverages that are high in added sugar and calories contributessignificantly to negative health outcomes. SSBs are associated with weight gainbecause of their increased sugar content. High sugar content is associated withhigh blood glucose levels and high calorie intake, which increases thedeposition of fat (Adipose tissue) in the peripheral tissues leading to obesity.In addition to changing behavior, anSSB tax can provide additional revenue to the city, which the city can then usefor any governmental purpose or for public welfare1.
Obesity is one of the chronic diseases which needs attention for medicaltreatment and prevention in the United States. It is a leading cause of mortalityand morbidity within the nation, and the high prevalence of obesity largelyaffects the healthcare system in the United States.It is reported that 69% of adults inthe United States are overweight, and more than one-third (35%) are obese3.Among adults in California the prevalence of obesity increased from 19percent in 2001 to 25 percent in 2011-122. Diabetes is also increasing at an alarming rate across theUnited States. From 1980 through 2014, the number of Americans diagnosed withdiabetes increased fourfold from 5.5 million to 22 million3.Adults who consumed soda/SSBs one or more times per day were more prone to beingobese than those who consumed these sugary beverages less often2.
SSBs are one such factor that increases the risk for obesity and type 2diabetes. EFFECTSIntended effects:· Reducingthe rates of Obesity: Consumption of SSBs like soda has beenassociated with higher calorie intake, lower dietary quality, and increase inweight. Local tax on SSB will help in reducing the consumption of these drinks,which is directly linked to causing obesity. It has been reported that a higherproportion of adults who consume soda daily were obese (30 percent) compared toadults who consume soda less frequently (24 percent)2.
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· Reducingthe occurrence of Diabetes: SSBs tend to increase the blood sugar and insulin levels due to theirhigh sugar content. If consumed in large amounts, they lead to an increased dietaryglycemic load4. Obese individuals are more prone to increasedglucose intolerance and insulin resistance induced by a high glycemic diet,which increases the risk of type 2 diabetes4. · SSBs are also linked to high incidence of dentalcaries, and subsequent oral health issues in children and adults. The proposalwill help in reducing the rates of dental caries, and thereby improving theoral health of the population1.· Astudy published by the American Journal of Public Health showed that there was 21% reduction in SSBconsumption and 63% increase in water consumption in Berkeley after theimplementation of SSB tax5.
Adding atax on SSBs will make buying them expensive, which can make an individual whois thirsty consume water instead of having soda/SSBs. Unintended effects: · Consumers may be likely to substitute soda with othercalorie containing products, which will lead to similar health consequences ofobesity, diabetes, and incidence of dental caries.· People with high socioeconomic status will stillbe at risk because they can afford to buy these beverages even after the local taxis applied.
