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As more and more cities are looking towards soda taxes to help reduce chronic health risks associated with sugary drink consumption, Massachusetts hospitals are now in talks with lawmakers about a soda tax to help fund improving children’s health in the state.
“I think it’s a good idea. If it promotes good health for people, especially young children, then why not? I think a lot of parents will buy sugary drinks because it’s easy and kids ask for it, but there’s other choices,” Lisa Byrne of Belchertown told local news channel, WWLP 22News.
Sugary drinks cause harm to children’s health, and taxing drinks has been effective in deterring purchases of sugary drinks in Mexico and now a study even reveals the same to be true in Berkely, California.
About 22% of Latino high-school students have 3 or more sugary drinks a day and with each extra sugary drink, the risk of becoming an obese adult jumps to 60, research shows.
The tax would only be on sugar-sweetened beverages and exclude taxes on drinks with 100% natural fruit or vegetable juice. The funds would go to help improve children’s health and advocates from the American Heart Association and the local health department hope that the policy change may help encourage schools and daycares from providing these unhealthy beverages to kids.
Considering that about 74 percent of Latinos have had a sugary drink by age 2, ensuring kids have healthier beverages in schools and daycare daily is vital to their health and helping to ensure they grow up to be a healthier weight.
To learn more about sugary beverage policies and how it impacts Latino kids and all kids, click here.
To see the latest of all the states or cities considering sugary drinks taxes, click here.
By The Numbers
74
percent
of Latino kids have had a sugary drink by age 2 (vs. 45% of white kids)
