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	Podcast:		UC Science Today
	Episode:		Soda tax linked to a drop in sugary drink consumption
	Category:		Science & Medicine
	Duration:		00:01:00
	Publish Date:		2016-10-02 19:00:00
	Description:		Over a year after the city of Berkeley, California implemented a ‘soda tax’, a team of researchers have reported a 21 percent drop in the consumption of soda and other sugary beverages in Berkeley’s low-income neighborhoods. Study author Kris Madsen of the University of California, Berkley’s School of Public Health, says this is an encouraging sign in the fight against obesity. "The initial results in Berkeley certainly suggest that soda taxes do exactly what we’re hoping they’ll do – and that’s reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. And it’s the kind of evidence that we really want because what we’re trying to find are tools that can change people’s behaviors. Education alone has not been effective. But if this is a really effective tool, then it’s a tool we need to use." Madsen adds that it was also encouraging to note the substantial decline was reported in low-income communities because they often bear the brunt of the health consequences of obesity and diabetes. For Science Today, I’m Larissa Branin.
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