We are advised to not consume more than 25 grams of added sugar each day, but the average American consumes more than three times this amount. Excessive consumption of added sugars is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

The single largest source of added sugar in our diet is sugar-sweetened beverages, such as sodas, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened waters, and coffee and tea beverages with added sugars (see this site for more information: https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/data-statistics/sugar-sweetened-beverages-intake.html). (Links to an external site.)

In an effort to reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, some countries and municipalities have passed laws that increase taxes on these items. Countries that currently have special taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages include France, Hungary, Mexico, and Norway, and some U.S. cities include Philadelphia, PA, and Berkeley, CA.

Please watch the video and read the article below to learn more about this topic:

Video – Is Sugar a Drug? (PBS):

Article – “Mexico’s sugar tax leads to fall in consumption for second year running” (The Guardian): https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/feb/22/mexico-sugar-tax-lower-consumption-second-year-running (Links to an external site.)

Based on your knowledge of addiction and the information gained from the given resources above, please answer the following questions:

1) Would you consider sugar to be a drug? Why or why not?

2) Provide an argument in favor of and an argument against a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.

3) Would you support a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in your city? Why or why not?

4) If a sugar-sweetened beverage tax was passed in your city, how would you want the resulting tax revenue to be spent?