The National Center for Health Research strongly supports the SWEET Act introduced by Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). Today, sugary beverages represent the largest calorie source in an American teen’s diet — and the largest calorie count for many adults as well. The SWEET Act is the first step towards helping curb this trend.
The SWEET Act will impose a national, penny-per-teaspoon tax on all added sugars in beverages, to be paid by the producer or importer of those products. “The revenue will be used to support research, prevention, and treatment of health conditions caused by all those extra calories, such as diabetes and obesity, “ explains Dr. Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Center for Health Research. “We know that when cigarette taxes, gas taxes, and taxes on plastic bags increase, consumption goes down – and that means that a tax on added sugar should help reduce obesity, especially among kids.”
To read more about the SWEET Act and Representative DeLauro’s work click here.