An ounce of prevention

Sales of energy drinks and some other beverages could slow if states raise taxes on sugared beverages to reduce consumption and improve the public's health. States including Maine and New York are considering heavily taxing sugared beverages. New York proposed taxing the drinks a penny per ounce of sugar, which would reduce consumption by 13 percent, according to a New England Journal of Medicine aritcle. The authors, led by Yale University psychologist Kelly Brownell, say sugar-sweetened beverages may be the single largest driver of the obesity epidemic, and advocate a tax similar to the tobacco excise tax to reduce consumption (1"The Tan Sheet" April 6, 2009, p. 6)