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Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson

March 26, 2015

One of the most important things a non-smoker can do to improve his or her health is to stop drinking soda and other sugary drinks. Soda promotes diabetes, heart disease, obesity, tooth decay, and other health problems, and unlike other foods, provides nothing of positive value to the body.

So it comes as welcome news for public health that sales of full-calorie, carbonated soda continue their modest trend downward, according to data collected by Beverage Digest. Health officials, legislators, and other policy makers should escalate their efforts to further drive down consumption by supporting policies that decrease availability in public places, raising new taxes, requiring warning labels, and otherwise promoting water as the default drink.