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Tax Soda: It's the New Tobacco

Less obese, less diabetic America just a couple of laws away

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 18, 2008 10:27 AM CST

(Newser) – The cigarette tax "was the biggest health care breakthrough in the last 40 years in the United States," and its successor may be the 18% tax on non-diet soda New York Gov. David Patterson is pitching, writes Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times. Not only do empty calories in soda contribute significantly to the obesity epidemic, but soft drinks even have a lung cancer equivalent: diabetes, which helps kill 200,000 Americans a year.

“In effect, the most promising cure for lung cancer didn’t emerge from a medical research lab, but from money-grubbing politicians,” Kristof contends. He calls for "a public health campaign to change social behavior, adding: "A starting point is to recognize that risky teen behavior these days can involve not just alcohol, drugs, or sex but also extra-large Cokes."

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (3)]

Coca-Cola bottles are displayed as a customer shops at Andronico's Market in San Francisco, in this July 15, 2006 file photo. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

The soda is just as dangerous as the burger. (Shutterstock)

The average American drinks 35 gallons of non-diet soda per year. (Shutterstock)

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These days, sugary drinks are to American health roughly what tobacco was a generation ago. - Nicholas Kristof

Risky teen behavior these days can involve not just alcohol, drugs or sex but also extra-large Cokes. - Nicholas Kristof

In effect, the most promising cure for lung cancer didn’t emerge from a medical research lab but from money-grubbing politicians. - Nicholas Kristof, on the cigarette tax, which has saved 40,000 lives per year

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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Tax Soda: It's the New Tobacco