One study led by a Rand Corp. researcher examined children’s body mass index and consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks in a national sample of more 7,000 elementary-school students between 1998 and 2004. The majority of the kids lived in states where sodas were taxed more than other foods, with levies on sodas ranging as high as 7%…The results showed no overall difference in beverage consumption in states that taxed sodas more, but there was some benefit for some groups including kids who started off heavier, those from low-income families, African Americans and those who watched a lot of TV. There was some evidence that a higher tax was linked to lower body mass index in third- to fifth-graders.
It’ surprising that scientifically rigorous journals like Health Affairs would publish something as scientifically grey as “if we tax sodas, kids get healthy!!!”
I think I’ve lost my faith in epidemiological studies on American society. Do these researchers think our society is that simple?
Children + Soda Taxes = Health! 🙂
Children – Soda Taxes = Disease 🙁
If there’s a sociological study that says “All things being equal, there’s a 5% difference in x if we do y,” view it with extreme skepticism.
And if anyone thinks that adding 7 cents to a 3-liter 99 cent bottle of soda is going to change our kids’ health for the better, they’re highly delusional.
The health of our nation will not get better through this kind of 7% tax legislation. If a 2 liter bottle of soda is the same price as an $11 pack of cigarettes in NYC, then we may be getting somewhere.