Soda Tax Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Soda Tax - Essay Example In fact, a ten- year research carried on individuals with a regular intake of diet soda revealed a 70% (Picca 35) increase on their waistline in comparison to individuals with a zero tolerance to soda intake. I that believe soda tax serves an effective measure of saving the ignorant American population, who turn a blind eye to dire health complications for continuous soda intake. A tax charge on soft beverages will have a profound reduction of illnesses such as diabetes associated with unhealthy lifestyle. Aside from obesity, public health officials also highlight additional health benefits of a potential soda tax such as improved dental hygiene. In the last 50 years, soft drink consumption has increased by whooping 500% (Brill 46). Interestingly soft drinks like soda consist of massive calories but with zero nutritional value. Even with such scary statistics soft drinks consumption make up 7% percent of energy consumption in adults and with a larger percentage reported in children and adolescents (Brill 47). A tax charge on soda would result into a consumption reduction. Public health officials note that a consumer reduction in soda intake would reduce obesity cases nationwide, hence significant step towards the fight against diseases such as diabetes. The rising cost of soda, would reduce consumer intake, and consequently reduce weight gain of approximately 90 % of the American population (Picca 36). A research carried out by the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey in 2010 revealed that indeed states with higher taxes on soda recorded the lowest consumer consumption on soft drinks (Picca 37). Individuals in such states turned to healthy drinks such as milk and natural juice for calories consumption. Following the success of taxation on tobacco and tobacco products, that led to a signification reduction of health complication associated with regular nicotine intake (Picca 37). Taxation on soda would have the same implications on health