USDA says Soda Tax will work!

For those of you not in the know, there is a soda tax being proposed that will add a tax on soda and sugar sweetened drinks. Just like taxing cigarettes. There has been some outcry (mostly by soda producers) that the soda tax is unfair, is infringing on our American rights, etc. They say we are being unfair to working families by charging more money for their groceries.

You know what isn't being taxed? Water, fruit juices, and milk. Healthier choices. SO- if you had to choose to save money AND be healthy, the soda tax makes sense. The USDA also found that the elimination of these sugary drinks would cause a decrease in body weight for adults and children. After watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, I know how important it is to get rid of those sugared drinks not just for weight and health, but also for mood regulation!

Here's the report in the USDA's words (mine are more fun):

Economic Research Report No. (ERR-100) 33 pp, July 2010

The link between high U.S. obesity rates and the overconsumption of added sugars, largely from sodas and fruit drinks, has prompted public calls for a tax on caloric sweetened beverages. Faced with such a tax, consumers may reduce consumption of these sweetened beverages and substitute nontaxed beverages, such as bottled water, juice, and milk. This study estimated that a tax-induced 20-percent price increase on caloric sweetened beverages could cause an average reduction of 37 calories per day, or 3.8 pounds of body weight over a year, for adults and an average of 43 calories per day, or 4.5 pounds over a year, for children. Given these reductions in calorie consumption, results show an estimated decline in adult overweight prevalence (66.9 to 62.4 percent) and obesity prevalence (33.4 to 30.4 percent), as well as the child at-risk-for-overweight prevalence (32.3 to 27.0 percent) and the overweight prevalence (16.6 to 13.7 percent). Actual impacts would depend on many factors, including how the tax is reflected in consumer prices and the competitive strategies of beverage manufacturers and food retailers.

I think the hardest thing will be how to resist the temptations that the soda companies will be throwing at us. I know they don't want to lose sales. I hope this encourages them to step up and give us healthier optons- be part of the solution, guys!