(June 17th, 2016, New York, USA) – Vital Strategies today welcomed the majority vote by Philadelphia’s City Council to implement a soda tax to help pay for social programs like Pre-K provision, which is also likely to help deliver health benefits. José Luis Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vital Strategies, said:
“We congratulate Philadelphia on becoming America’s first major city, and second city overall, to implement a soda tax. While Philadelphia’s leaders have been clear that this tax is being implemented to fund social programs, health could be an important co-beneficiary. Tax is a critical tool in reducing demand for unhealthy products, as much as the industry bodies, lobby groups and companies behind these products like to claim otherwise. Assuming that the soda companies pass the tax increase on to consumers – which they may not do in order to maintain sales and market share – higher prices are likely to have an impact on consumption. Mexico’s 1 peso per liter soda tax has reduced per capita consumption by six liters in the past two years.
“Equally, this soda tax will not in itself resolve Philadelphia’s obesity problem. That will require a portfolio of interventions to deliver long-term behavior change, encouraging people to make healthier choices in terms of their entire diet and levels of physical activity. Public awareness campaigns could make a real difference, like the Mexican campaign which showed how many spoons of added sugar are in sugary sodas. But in health terms, the soda tax is a start – and the strong vote in favor of passing this bill is a signal to legislators in other cities that Philadelphia’s politicians believe that soda taxes will be popular with the electorate. We encourage other cities, states and countries to join the growing number of local and national governments implementing or increasing taxes on soda and other sugar sweetened beverages.”
About Vital Strategies
Vital Strategies envisions a world where every person is protected by a strong public health system. Our team combines evidence-based strategies with innovation to help develop sound public health policies, manage programs efficiently, strengthen data systems, conduct research, and design strategic communication campaigns for policy and behavior change. Vital Strategies was formed when The Union North America and World Lung Foundation joined forces. It is an affiliate of The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).
For more information, please visit vitalstrategies.org or Twitter @VitalStrat
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Tracey Johnston, Vital Strategies, at +44.7889.081.170 or tjohnston@vitalstrategies.org