A Sugar-Sweetened-Beverage Tax Campaign: The Key Role of the Dental Community

Abstract

ABSTRACTOn November 8, 2016, the citizens of Oakland enacted an initiative imposing a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). The passage was the culmination of interdisciplinary efforts, including critical support from the local dental society, as well as individual dentists. Supporters were motivated by the impact of the consumption of soda and other SSBs on children’s health, the long-standing epidemic of dental caries, and the emerging epidemics of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. This article details how the critical support and advocacy of dentistry in collaboration with a wider health professional network and the broader community led to the successful passing of the sugar-sweetened-beverage tax.

Keywords

• Soda tax campaign
• dentistry
• dental community
• advocacy
• sugar-sweetened beverages