A penny-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would cut health and cost burdens of diabetes.
Sugar-sweetened beverages are a major contributor to the US obesity and diabetes epidemics. Using the Coronary Heart Disease Policy Model, we examined the potential impact on health and health spending of a nationwide penny-per-ounce excise tax on these beverages. We found that the tax would reduce consumption of these beverages by 15 percent among adults ages 25-64. Over the period 2010-20, the tax was estimated to prevent 2.4 million diabetes person-years, 95,000 coronary heart events, 8,000 strokes, and 26,000 premature deaths, while avoiding more than $17 billion in medical costs. In addition to generating approximately $13 billion in annual tax revenue, a modest tax on sugar-sweetened beverages could reduce the adverse health and cost burdens of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA. ycw2102@columbia.edu
Y Claire
YC
Wang
Pamela
P
Coxson
Yu-Ming
YM
Shen
Lee
L
Goldman
Kirsten
K
Bibbins-Domingo
D000328:Adult; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003363:Cost Control; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000639:trends; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D013660:Taxes / Q000191:economics*
D005632:Fructose