Sugar-sweetened Beverages

Sugary drinks contribute to obesity, which is clearly associated with an increased risk of cancer development and recurrence, as well as decreased risk of survival, for many cancers. The city of Philadelphia enacted a tax on soda that was challenged in court.  ACS CAN, along with 14 other public health organizations, issued a public statement and filed a friend of the court brief in support of the tax.  The brief provided the court with scientific evidence on the health effects of the beverages, and argues that state law does not preempt the city’s authority in this area. Philadelphia is working to protect the public health and acted within its legal ability in placing a tax on the distribution of this product.  The city beat back the initial challenge so the tax was upheld; ACS CAN and other groups have filed another amicus at the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.