Should Sweets Be Taxed?

October 14, 2009 ↓ Comments (0)

There has been talk of a new “soda tax,” as it is being called, that will tax sugary drinks to help pay for health care.¹ Coke and Pepsi, Rockstar Energy Drink and Gatorade would all be eligible for the new tax. As you can imagine, beverage companies are not happy.

Mutar Kent, CEO of the Coca-Cola Company, recently wrote an op-ed article in the Wall Street Journal arguing that it is a lack of exercise and not drinking soda that makes Americans fat.

Mr. Kent states, “Policy makers should stop spending their valuable time demonizing an industry that directly employs more than 220,000 people in the U.S., and through supporting industries, an additional three million. Instead, business and government should come together to help encourage greater physical activity and sensible eating and drinking, while allowing Americans to enjoy the simple pleasure of a Coca-Cola.” ²

Bottom line? Don’t stop drinking sugar drinks, just exercise more! What worries me about this is that the Coca-Cola Company is now partnering with the American Academy of Family Physicians to help teach consumers about nutrition. ³

This means that Coke (all-American sugar water fizzy drink manufacturer) is going to be the first corporate partner to work with AAFP on educational materials for your family.

“The AAFP recognizes the significant influence that consumer companies have on consumer health,” said Lori Heim, M.D., president-elect of the AAFP. “We look forward to working with The Coca-Cola Company, and other companies in the future, on the development of educational materials to teach consumers how to make the right choices and incorporate the products they love into a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.”

Sources:

1. Wall Street Journal

2. Wall Street Journal

3. American Academy of Family Physicians