Study Examines Health Impact Of Soda Taxes In 15 Cities.

reports a new Harvard study suggests soda taxes not only reduce consumption of sugary beverages, but “can improve the health and economic wellbeing of communities.” The Childhood Obesity Intervention Cost-Effectiveness Study at Harvard’s school of public health examined “the long-term cost-effectiveness of soda taxes” and concluded that “these policy measures could reduce rates of obesity and prevent diabetes, leading to a long-term reduction in healthcare costs nationwide.” Business Insider (12/14, Taylor) notes the study examined what “would happen if the 15 largest US cities with the ability to pass a 1-cent-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks did so,” and found that the tax would “raise almost $1 billion in revenue every year.” Jim Krieger of Healthy Food America, the food policy nonprofit that funded the Harvard study, said “cities have a golden opportunity to help their people avoid premature death and illness and cut health costs while raising revenue to make residents’ lives better in other ways.” http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/The-Bite/2016/1214/Soda-taxes-do-more-than-discourage-consumption