Proposed soft drink tax would fund childhood obesity education

Soft drinks would no longer be designated as food — and thus would be subject to sales tax — under a bill discussed in a Revenue Committee hearing Feb. 22.

LB753, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Bill Avery, would dedicate the new revenue raised by his proposed sales tax on soft drinks to fund childhood obesity education programs. Avery said it is important to deter children from making unhealthful choices.

“It’s our responsibility to set good policies to change the trajectory we see with childhood obesity,” he said. “If we don’t start somewhere, we’ll never tackle the issue.”

Under the bill, a soft drink is defined as a nonalcoholic beverage that contains natural or artificial sweeteners. Beverages that contain milk or milk products, soy, rice, or 100 percent vegetable or fruit juice would not be categorized as soft drinks.

LB753 would distribute 90 percent of the revenue to the state Department of Education and 10 percent to the state Department of Health and Human Services. The first $100,000 of the education funds would establish a statewide database to monitor student obesity and fitness. The remaining funds would be distributed to school districts for the assessment of student health, weight and fitness and to provide other evidence-based programs to target obesity and improve fitness.

Dr. Karla Lester, Lincoln-Lancaster County Board of Health president, testified in support of the bill. While she supported the proposed school-based efforts, she said children need to be educated on nutrition outside of school as well.

“Parents are the most important activists for their children’s health,” Lester said. “Change has to come everywhere a child goes.”

Steve Ford, representing the Nebraska Beverage Association, testified in opposition to the bill. He said simply taxing products would not make children healthier.

“We need to encourage a balanced diet and promote more physical activity,” Ford said. “Singling out one product for taxation will not solve a problem as complex as childhood obesity.”

Adi Pour, director of the Douglas County Health Department, testified in a neutral capacity. She said the bill is well intentioned but would not solve the problem.

The committee took no immediate action on the bill.