2016: The Year of the Soda Tax

he year 2016 was pivotal in the history of the "soda wars"-the politically divisive conflict between soda as a joy of life or as a uniquely harmful food. This past year, the soft beverage industry lost its battle against soda taxes. Cities and counties around the country are levying taxes on sweetened beverages to tackle rising rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes, especially among children, and to boost revenue for public health and community programs. Despite massive industry opposition, 6 jurisdictions, from San Francisco to Philadelphia, adopted taxes to reduce the consumption of soda. Bolstering this momentum, research in Berkeley, California, which began taxing drinks in March 2015, found that the consumption of soda in low-income neighborhoods decreased by 21%. 1 Armed with such evidence, other innovative cities pressed for price disincentives for purchasing soft drinks.