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Taxing Liquid Sugar:The lowdown on the sugar-sweetened beverage tax
The Problem: Obesity in the U.S.o Americans consume too much sugar. Over the years, our
consumption has significantly increased.
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
Refined Sugar
"Corn Sweetener"
Total Sweetener
The Problem: Obesity in the U.S. The more sugar we consume, the more our national waistline increases.
Obesity Trends in the U.S. 1985
No Data <10% 10%–14%
Obesity Trends in the U.S.: 1990
No Data <10% 10%–14%
Obesity Trends in the U.S.: 1995
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
Obesity Trends in the U.S.: 2000
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20%
Obesity Trends in the U.S.: 2005
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
Obesity Trends in the U.S.: 2008
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
Sugar Sweetened Beverages: A Big Part of the Problemo The average American consumes around 50 gallons of
sugary bevs each year. This is equal to 41 pounds of sugar and about 72,000 calories.
o Research has found a link between obesity and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
o For example, a recently study in San Francisco found that around 8.7% of the city’s obesity rates could be attributed to consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
Sugar-sweetenedbeverages are thesingle biggestcontributor to thenation’s obesityepidemic.
o Source: Bleich, SN, Wang YC, Wang Y, Gortmaker SL: Increasing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among USadults: 1988-1994 to 1999-2004. Am J Clin Nutr 2009; 89: 372:381.
Smoothie King Peanut Power + Grapeo Large (40oz)o 1,498 calorieso 44 grams fato 214 grams of sugaro Sugar equivalent=
20 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Instead… try a High Protein Banana Smoothieo 16 ozo 322
calorieso 8 grams
of fato 23
grams of sugar
McDonald’s Large Triple Thick Chocolate Shakeo 1,160
calorieso 27 grams
of fato 168 grams
of sugaro Sugar
equivalent = 13 Baked Hot Apple Pies
Instead of the Triple Thick Shake… try McDonald’s Hot Fudge Sundaeo 340 calorieso 12 grams of fato 47 grams of sugar
DQ Caramel Moolatte
o 870 Calorieso 24 grams of fato 112 grams of sugaro Sugar equivalent =
100 frosted animal crackers
Instead of a Moolatte… have a Dilly Bar!
o 210 calorieso 13 grams of fato 17 grams of sugar
Starbucks Venti Java Chip Frappuccino
o 510 calorieso 13 grams of fato 77 grams of
sugaro Sugar equivalent
= 3.5 large chocolate chip cookies
Starbuck’s White Hot Chocolateo 520 calorieso 16 grams of fato 75 grams of
sugaro Sugar equivalent
= 14 Oreos
Cold Stone CreameryPB & C Shakeo 2,010 calorieso 131 grams of fato 153 grams of sugaro Sugar equivalent=
30 Chips Ahoy Cookies
Instead of a PB & C…drink a Sinless Oh Fudge Shake o “Like it” sizeo 490 calorieso 2 grams of fato 44 grams of sugar
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Youtho Marketers of soda and sugary
beverages aggressively target youth.
o Soda accounts for about 10% of total calories the average kid consumers in a day
o Kids who drink a lot of soda don’t get enough of important nutrients like folate, vitamin A, and calcium.
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Youtho Research has also shown that youth are particularly
more likely to reduce consumption upon increase in price.
o The obesity rate for kids in around 17.5%.Another study observed middle-school students over two school years, and concluded that their risk of obesity skyrocketed 60% for every additional sugary drink they consumed a day.
Potential Solution: Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxo What this means: A tax on all sugar-sweetened
beverages, including (non-diet) sodas, sweetened teas, fruit drinks, sports drinks, etc…
o Currently, 33 states have minor SSB taxes – but the taxes aren’t significant enough to create change.
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxo Research demonstrates, and tobacco taxes prove, that raising the
price of unhealthy foods will most likely lead to reduced consumptiono Consequently, this tax could help reduce adult and childhood
obesity.o Additionally, money generated from the tax can be used to further
promote public health efforts in the U.S. Even if a tax of only 3 cents a soda was imposed, it could raise $51.6 billion in the next 10 years.
o This is needed, for obesity-related health problems cost America about $117 billion each year.
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax: Campaign Exampleo New York state’s Pour on the Pounds campaigno www.youtube.com/user/DrinkingFat
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax: Campaign Example
Time to Play…
oGUESS THE SUGAR CONTENT!
Rockstar
Sugar Content?62 grams of sugar
Naked Berry Blast
Sugar Content?52 grams of sugar
Izze Sparkling Clementine
Sugar Content?27 grams of sugar
Starbucks Double Shot
Sugar Content?26 grams of sugar
Nos
Sugar Content?52 grams of sugar
SoBe Pina Colada
Sugar Content?77.5 Grams of Sugar
Mountain Dew
Sugar Content?77 grams of sugar
Gatorade Fruit Punch
Sugar Content?56 grams of sugar
Fuze- Strawberry Guava
Sugar Content?44 grams of sugar
Full Throttle
Sugar Content?58 grams of sugar
Bolthouse Farms Blue Goodness
Sugar Content?56 grams of sugar
Snapple Raspberry Tea
Sugar Content?42 grams of sugar
Time to Play…
oGUESS THE AMOUNT OF SUGAR PACKETS!
Coca-Cola
Sugar Packets?21.7 packets of sugar
Powerade
Sugar Packets?20 packets of sugar
Vitamin Water Defense
Sugar Packets?10.7 packets of sugar
V8 Vegetable Juice
Sugar Packets?3.7 packets of sugar
MONSTER
Sugar Packets?18 packets of sugar