Urge President Obama to Support Soft-Drink Taxes to Reduce Obesity, Promote Health and Raise Funds

Soft drinks are the only beverage or food that is linked to a greater risk of obesity. Although consumption has decreased slightly since 2000, the obesity epidemic marches on with full force. Two-thirds of American adults are obese or overweight. And because nearly a third of children ages 2 to 19 are already overweight or obese, experts project that the current generation will live shorter lives than their parents due to higher rates of diabetes, stroke, cancer, and heart attacks.

Given these facts, a tax on carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks would provide funds for the Obama Administration to implement a comprehensive anti-obesity campaign–with the reduction of non-diet soda consumption at the forefront.

A federal tax of just seven cents per 12 ounces would raise about $10 billion annually.  Individual states could raise as much as several hundred million dollars annually.

Soft drinks are the number-one source of calories in Americans' diets and a major cause of childhood obesity. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, each additional 12-ounce soft drink consumed per day increases the risk of obesity in children by 60 percent.

Please tell President Obama you support a soda tax, which could raise funds for anti-obesity campaigns involving both diet and exercise and help ease the raging obesity epidemic in this country.

You can bet the soft drink industry will oppose this program, so let President Obama know you support it!