Introduction

There’s nothing more refreshing than a nice cold Coca Cola on a hot summer day. And while we reflect on the enjoyable taste, fizz and temperature of the bubbly drink, we don’t often think about the impacts that the soda can have on our bodies.

Soda is a common commodity in our society. While one or two sodas is not harmful to long term health, excessive consumption of soda can lead to several health problems that the rest of society often has to pay for.

The city of Richmond, CA, placed a measure taxing soda on the 2012 ballot. If it passes, it will impose a 1 cent per fluid ounce tax on soda and sugar sweetened beverages (not only soda but also items like Snapples and Arizonas). Unfortunately, the measure failed, but it could just be the first in a long line of attempts to limit the consumption of these drinks.

This website will look at several aspects of sugar-sweetened beverages, such as how consuming large amounts of added sugar affects health, how those consequences affect health and healthcare costs, and why soda should be taxed. Each idea is presented on it’s own page, but they combine to show that a diet that includes excess sugar-sweetened beverages leads to sever health problems and ultimately costs much more than it is worth, due to the costs of treating conditions related to obesity, which excess consumption of these drinks can easily cuase.

 

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