CO ee ial Ce em Cor life MEDIA CONTACT: Corey Rangel 312-476-6602 Corey.Rangel@heart.org AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS SUGARY DRINK TAX Sugary drinks are the number once source of added sugar in American diet ‘The American Heart Association is proud to stand in support of Alderman George Cardenas’ proposal to add a penny per ounce tax on sugary drinks in the City of Chicago. As the single largest source of added sugar in the American diet, sugary drinks are a significant contributor to the obesity epidemic in Chicago and across the country. “We know there is no ‘silver bullet’ solution to our obesity-caused chronic disease epidemic. However, we do know one important fact: as the number one source of added sugar, sugary drinks are a significant contributor to this immense health problem,” said Dr. Karen Larimer, president-elect of the Metropolitan Chicago Board of Directors of the American Heart Association. “Reducing consumption through a tax will decrease rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.” With more and more people suffering from largely preventable obesity-related conditions like diabetes, cancer and heart disease, we can no longer avoid the issue. Both in economic and healthcare costs, we all pay for consumption of sugary drinks. It will take bold, multilateral and immediate action to even make a dent. That's why we think that a penny per ounce tax on sugary beverages is an important weapon in the fight against obesity. From sports drinks to sodas to fruit-flavored drinks, today's children are drinking their age in these sugary drinks each week. Evidence shows adults should not consume more than about 36 ounces, or 450 calories, each week. Yet the average 8-year-old boy consumes 8 servings, or 64 ounces, each week. Itis increasingly clear that some sort of tax increase will be needed to plug growing holes in city and state finances. At the same time, the American Heart Association supports Alderman Cardenas’ proposal to not only raise revenue, but to invest it in obesity prevention efforts. We urge policymakers to choose the option that helps people be healthier. Politically speaking, the sugary beverage tax is uniquely viable because it can do a lot of good for people as well as government budgets. It is a small price to pay for a healthier future for our families and communities and we urge elected officials to support it. ‘aE About the American Heart Association ‘The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke — the two leading causes Cf death in the world. We team with milions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke, To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USAM, visit heart org or call any of our offices around the country