A Tax to Combat America’s Sugary Diet

In the last 50 years, average American sugar consumption has increased by 24 pounds a year. Some studies trace this to sugary drinks, such as soda, which are the leading source of added sugar in American diets. New York, among other states, is contemplating taxing these sugary beverages. The American Beverage Association has supposedly had ads opposing these taxes. People who drink soda have an increased risk of heart disease and metabolic syndrome, regardless of weight. Fructose, which accounts for half of the sugar in sugary drinks, raises blood levels of triglycerides after meals, promotes a gain in abdominal fat, and may promote overeating by affecting the hormone leptin. According to Kelly D. Brownell, "For each extra can or glass of sugared beverage consumed per day, the likelihood of a child’s becoming obese increases by 60 percent.” A study at Yale indicates that soda consumption will drop by almost 8% for every 10 percent increase in price. This could cause an increase in diet drinks and bottled water, so it "would be unlikely to affect employment or commercial revenue." 72 percent of New York residents supported the "soda tax" as long as the revenue went to obesity prevention.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/health/06brod.html?ref=sugar