Taxing Soda to Trim Waistlines? US Legislation Increases, But Proof Remains Elusive

The proof is clear - it does not work, unless the amount is huge.

The article has a picture of fat anti-"junk food" crusader Kelly Brownell, a proponent of having the rest of us pay for his lack of caloric intake control. Picture at end of post.

Obesity researchers trying to model the potential impact of taxing sugar-sweetened beverages believe that if sodas and sugary energy drinks were adequately taxed, the payoff in terms of populationwide weight loss would be, well, hefty.

In two presentations here at Obesity 2010, economist Dr Linda Powell (University of Illinois, Chicago) and Dr Kelly Brownell (Yale University, New Haven, CT) described the efforts made in individual states and cities to levy taxes on sugary drinks and what the potential impact of this might be in combating obesity.

F**k him and the tax.