Published: February 2013

ID #: 69173

Journal: Am J Prev Med

Authors: Barry CL, Niederdeppe J, Gollust SE

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This paper assessed public opinion about arguments commonly used in debates over taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and found greater public agreement with anti- than pro-tax arguments. A majority of respondents agreed with anti-SSB tax arguments that such taxes are: arbitrary because they do not affect consumption of other unhealthy foods (60%); a quick way for politicians to fill budget holes (58%); an unacceptable intrusion of government into people’s lives (53.8%); opposed by most Americans (53%); and harmful to the poor (51%). No pro-tax argument was endorsed by a majority of respondents. Democrats were more likely to agree with pro-tax arguments and less likely to agree with anti-tax arguments than Republicans and Independents.

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