Small taxes on soft drinks and snack foods to promote health

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) Vol. 90; no. 6; pp. 854 - 857
• Main Authors: Jacobson, MF, Brownell, KD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Am Public Health Assoc 01.06.2000; American Public Health Association
• Subjects: Beverages; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer; Candy; Candy - economics; Carbonated Beverages - economics; Cardiovascular disease; Chewing Gum - economics; Consumption; Diabetes; Diet; Exercise; Financing; Food; Fruits; Funding; General populations; Health promotion; Health Promotion - economics; Humans; Medical sciences; Nutrition; Nutrition research; Oils & fats; Prevention and actions; Public health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Sales taxes; Snack foods; Snacks; Soft drinks; State taxes; Tax rates; Tax revenues; Taxation; Taxes; Taxes - economics; Taxes - statistics & numerical data; United States; Wellness programs; United States; North America; America; Non alcoholic beverage; Human; Snack(food); Diet; Health promotion; Health; Legislation; Epidemiology; Taxe; Public health; Feeding
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.90.6.854

Health officials often wish to sponsor nutrition and other health promotion programs but are hampered by lack of funding. One source of funding is suggested by the fact that 18 states and 1 major city levy special taxes on soft drinks, candy, chewing gum, or snack foods. The tax rates may be too small to affect sales, but in some jurisdictions, the revenues generated are substantial. Nationally, about $1 billion is raised annually from these taxes. The authors propose that state and local governments levy taxes on foods of low nutritional value and use the revenues to fund health promotion programs.