Syracuse Post Standard

Gov. David Paterson’s proposal to add a tax on sugary soft drinks makes sense on many levels. For decades, soft drink manufacturers have spent millions to market their products to be consumed like water anytime, anywhere and in excessive amounts. Today, Americans consume an average of 60-plus gallons of soft drinks annually, up from 24 gallons per year in 1970.

Sugary soft drinks have been identified in medical studies as the biggest contributors to our obesity epidemic. A Harvard study found that each additional 12-ounce soft drink consumed per day increases the odds of a child becoming obese by 60 percent.

Obesity has hit New York state hard particularly in the wallet. We rank second among U.S. states in adult obesity-related medical expenditures, spending nearly $6.1 billion yearly. Eighty-one percent of those medical costs are already borne by the taxpayer through Medicaid and Medicare payments.

With these points in mind, it makes sense for soft drink consumers to help offset the state’s growing obesity-related medical costs and to fund obesity-prevention programs. The governor predicts that the 18 percent tax will reduce sugary beverage consumption by 5 percent - an average of 4,100 calories per New Yorker, or about 1.2 pounds. If that happens, much like the tobacco tax has cut our state’s smoking rate, that’s a huge benefit for every New Yorker.

Nancy Huehnergarth, Director
New York State Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Alliance