Health organizations Monday called for additional taxes on added sugars, like those on sodas and other sugary drinks.
In a joint policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association endorsed a suite of public health measures, including excise taxes, limits on marketing to children, and financial incentives for purchasing healthier beverages, all designed to reduce kids’ consumption of sugary drinks.
The groups cited evidence of association between added sugars and increased risk of heart disease and other long-term health problems.
The groups point out that the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that children and teens consume fewer than ten percent of calories from added sugars.
But, data shows that children and teens now consume 17 percent of their calories from added sugars, nearly half of which comes from drinks alone.
So, the groups say local, state and national policymakers should consider raising the price of sugary drinks, such as via an excise tax, along with an accompanying educational campaign, and say tax revenues should go in part toward reducing health and socioeconomic disparities.