News Releases

American Beverage Association Statement on Mayor Gavin Newsom's Recommendation of Soft Drink Tax

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 18, 2007                                            
           
Contact:
Tracey Halliday
(202) 463-6718

Jessica Badger
(202) 463-6717
 

AMERICAN BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION STATEMENt ON MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM’S RECOMMENDATION OF SOFT DRINK TAX

In response to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's proposal of a tax on soft drinks, the American Beverage Association (ABA) said:

“We certainly hope the mayor doesn’t pursue a flawed strategy of taxing retailers who sell soft drinks. Not only would it have no impact on childhood obesity, it would highlight a significant lack of understanding about the complexity of this problem by government leaders. It makes no sense to single out one food or beverage product to address an issue created by a lack of balance between calories consumed and calories burned. It would be just as silly to tax all the high-tech companies in San Francisco and blame them for contributing to childhood obesity through their video games, computer games and Internet search engines. Or to do the same with pizza companies, ice cream shops, bakery owners, and San Francisco’s delicious Ghirardelli chocolate. This idea for taxing retailers sounds more like a thinly veiled attempt to raise revenues for more city spending than a sincere effort to reduce childhood obesity.

What we need to do is focus on teaching children the importance of balancing calories consumed with calories burned – for that is the only proven equation for controlling weight.
 
We hope the mayor rejects sound-bite activism and focuses on the total equation, just as the beverage industry is doing with our National School Beverage Guidelines developed with the Clinton Foundation, American Heart Association and their Alliance for a Healthier Generation. The guidelines cut calories in schools across America while the Alliance is also pushing for more physical activity for students – a comprehensive approach that will have meaningful impact.”
 
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The American Beverage Association is the trade association representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute non-alcoholic beverages in the United States.
 
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