The Heartland Institute, based in Cook County, Ill., just released a new Research & Commentary on the recently repealed Cook County beverage tax.

Highlights include:

• “Opposition to the Cook County tax hike was so strong and politically toxic that the Cook County Board voted in October to end the tax at the end of 2017.”

• “It has never been proven sugary drink taxes lower obesity rates or improve public health. In a 2009 study, Jason Fletcher, David Frisvold, and Nathan Tefft found while increasing the cost of sugary drinks did decrease consumption of these beverages, the losses were often offset by increases in other sweetened drinks, or even beer.”

• “In Philadelphia, the unpopular tax, which went into effect January 2017, has generated far less revenue than expected. According to a new report from the Tax Foundation, Philadelphia expected to receive $46.2 million in soda tax revenue from the tax in the first half of 2017, but the actual total revenue received was 15 percent lower than the estimate (about $39.5 million).”

Check out the full article here.

Instead of taxes, there is a better approach – one that won’t place burdens on people living paycheck to paycheck and can tackle the seeming intractable problem of obesity in our country. It involves beverage companies, government and public health advocates joining together on sound solutions that will work.

Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper and PepsiCo are already showing how this can be done by partnering with public health groups like the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and a number of national and community organizations to help people reduce the sugar and calories they get from beverages. We are dedicated to supporting our consumers by offering great tasting products and plenty of options to help them moderate their calories and sugar from beverages. Working together, we can make our communities stronger while at the same time empowering people to lead healthy and balanced lives.