Oakland's Sugary Drink Tax Leads to Significant Sales Drop and Health Benefits
A new study by UCSF researchers found that purchases of sugary drinks dropped 27% in Oakland in the first 2.5 years after the city adopted a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. The decrease is expected to lead to improved health for Oakland residents over a 10-year period and savings in health care spending. The study compared Oakland to Richmond, which does not have a soda tax, and found that the implementation of Oakland’s tax was followed by a 27% drop in purchases of sugary drinks. The findings offer additional evidence for state legislators to reconsider a 2018 state law that prohibits California municipalities from passing their own local soda taxes until 2031.