Taxation, y'all...

I've written about this topic before, but it seems like it's coming to a head yet again. And it's making me all sorts of cranky today.
A team of prominent doctors, scientists and policy makers is pushing a tax on sugary drinks - a move they claim will fight obesity and provide billions for health care reform. The group released a study in The New England Journal of Medicine earlier this week, estimating that a tax of a penny an ounce on sugary beverages would increase the cost of a 20-ounce drink by 15 to 20 percent and raise $14.9 billion in its first year. The good news is, the tax would not impact sugar-free, diet drinks. It would, however, apply to soft drinks, energy drinks, sports beverages and many juices and iced teas. The study cited research on price elasticity for soft drinks that has shown that for every 10 percent rise in price, consumption declines 8 to 10 percent.
Although the proposed tax faces a formidable hurdle in Congress, it bugs me that they are even considering such a simple solution to such a complex problem. Earlier this year, a New England Journal of Medicine article stated that sugar-sweetened beverages "may be the single largest driver of the obesity epidemic." Oh really? Allow me to disagree! In a society where calorie consumption has increased as quickly as waistlines, how can one food product or ingredient be primary culprit in the obesity epidemic? Also, why is the New England Journal of Medicine publishing inconsistent studies? As I mentioned in an earlier posting about this topic, a study published in the February issue of the journal concluded, "diets that are successful in causing weight loss can emphasize a range of fat, protein, and carbohydrate compositions that have beneficial effects on risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes," meaning it is the calories that count when trying to lose or maintain weight and decrease risk factors for chronic disease. This is also supported by a study recently presented to the European Congress on Obesity which reported that increased calorie intake is primarily responsible for the obesity epidemic in the U.S.
Look, normally I wouldn't be so quick to defend regular soft drinks. As most of you know, I'm constantly encouraging people to avoid these products in favor of the sugar-free versions. But even I take exception to efforts that single out sugary drinks in the fight against obesity. Requiring consumers to pay a tax on a particular food or beverage is not going to teach them how to make healthy choices. It is not going to foster good dietary habits and probably will not deter loyal soda lovers from buying these beverages. The bottom line is, when it comes to losing weight, all calories count - and this tax won't make anybody healthier nor will it fix a problem as serious as obesity.
Phew. I'm now ready to climb off my soapbox. And because it's Friday, I thought I would end on an entertaining note. I'm sure most of you have seen or heard about what happens when you mix Mentos and diet soda? Well apparently the folks on Discovery Channel's Mythbusters - one of my favorite shows, by the way - recently dedicated a segment to the science behind it.
Check it out!