October 12: Taxing the Sweet: Will a Soda fee in San Francisco make us healthier

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Next on City Visions, we'll discuss an initiative by the Mayor's office to add a fee to the sale of soda in The City. The surcharge will go toward the funding of the physical activity agency, ShapeUP SF, but will it succeed in using higher consumer prices on soda to help people make different choices. Is this tax fair to everybody and what is some of the recent dietary research supporting this approach? Do the economic choices people make in regards to their health respond to modest tax increases? What successes and concerns have other cities had in using taxation to change behavior?

• Dr. Harold Goldstein, Exectutive Director, California Center for Public Health Advocacy
• J. John Wilson, Communication Director, Center for Consumer Freedom