Longest Policy Method

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Sugary drinks, also known as sugar-sweetened beverages, are the leading sugar source in the American diet. Sweetened beverages are any liquid sweetened with the various forms of sugar such as dextrose, fructose, honey, glucose, high fructose, corn syrup, malt syrup, corn sweeter and syrup, molasses, raw sugar, and sucrose (Jones, Veerman, and Hammond, 2018). They appear in the form of energy, sport, and fruit drinks. Additionally, they can be in the form of sweetened waters, regular sodas that are not sugar-free, coffee, and tea beverages with added sugars. Excess sugar is harmful to an individual’s health. Frequently drinking sugary drinks has been associated with; heart disease, excessive weight gain(obesity), gout, arthritis, non-alcoholic liver disease, kidney illnesses, type 2 diabetes, tooth decay, and cavities.

The recommended intake of added sugar should not be more than 6 teaspoons (100 calories) for women and 9 teaspoons (150 calories) for men (Moreland et al., 2018). However, a 20-ounce bottle of regular soda has more than 16 teaspoons of sugar. Most 8-ounce servings of energy drinks contain 24 grams of sugar (Anne, 2020). most of the energy drinks’ calories have 95% calories (Boston Public Health Commission, 2020).

Different countries realize the harm associated with SSB and are beginning to tea fiscal measures to reduce sugar intake from beverages. Belgium, Mexico, Finland, Norway, Chile, Hungary, France, Barbados, and in the United States (Philadelphia and Barkley) have implemented or are excise or implementing sugary drinks taxes (Jones, Veerman, And Hammond, 2018). The awareness has come as a result of obesity and heart-related diseases health crisis. The taxation amount varies across the country’s jurisdiction.

Looking at Mexico, California and Illinois have enacted taxes of approximately 34 cents per liter. On the contrary, Philadelphia has implemented 51 cents per liter, while Colorado sugary taxation is 68 cents per liter. The UK’s proposed tax system is according to the beverage sugar content. Therefore, the lower sugar content will be taxed less than the other ones (Jones, Veerman, And Hammond, 2018). Those with 50 grams or less in every liter will be considered low, whereas 80 grams or more per liter will be regarded as high. The method has proven to be effective. Looking at the State of Colorado, where their taxation is at 0.68, the agenda made people reduce SSB intake (Moreland et al., 2018). A research was conducted in the health sector, and adults indicated improved BMI.

Additionally, there was a 21% reduced intake of sugary drinks among the low-income population. The policy seemed to work in Philadelphia, where a study compared the effects between independent and untaxed control cities in Baltimore, Maryland (Tamir, Cohen-Yogev, Furman-Assaf, & Endevelt, 2018). The research taxation policy proved to be the most effective method in the reduction of SSB purchases.

Excise tax where the consumption tax is collected from retailers or distributors, thus reflected on the posted price. Therefore causing the pass-through rate, it reflects on the shelf price since it is how much. The overall effect causes price elasticity demand, which affects the consumers’ behavioral changes following the item’s shift in price.

According to the WHO report (2018), 39% of the total population is obese. In 2016 41 million children under the age of 5 were obese or overweight. The CDC approximated that between 2011-2014 49% of USA adults and 63% of the youth drank a sugary sweetened beverage with an average of 143 calories daily (CDC, 2018). It is higher among males and people living in low-income families. 52% of the people drank SSB at home, whereas the rest took while away from home.

Health professionals can play a role in the reduction of SSB intake in the country. There are different approaches used to influence the policymaking process that might improve health conditions. For the paper, the longest policy model will reduce SSB intake in Georgia state through taxation policies. The longest policy model can be defined as an approach to public policymaking involving a series of relationships among individuals, policymakers, and organizations (Themes, 2017). Below are the steps to be followed to increase the SSB excise taxation rate in Georgia from 4% to 15% (Avalara, 2020).

Problem Definition and get it on the agenda.

SSB consumption is an issue facing the country. However, necessary measures have not been taken mainly in Georgia. Policymakers will be shown the research statistics for adequate problem definition (Themes, 2017).

Health committees are formed to establish the trends, problems, or possible health factors in SSB consumption (Themes, 2017). At this stage, policymakers decide whether it is necessary to improve the existing roles. At this stage, health workers’ responsibility is to ensure that the committee understands the problems and can convince the congress both facts and empirical data.

Develop policy options.

The step is dependent on evidence and options. Looking at the SSB intake problems, the available options are banned from sugary drinks that exceed a certain amount of sugar (Themes, 2017). Nevertheless, such a rule might cause a financial crisis in the country. The next alternative can be regulating SSB intake by age. Nonetheless, it might create unnecessary law complications since there is no enough awareness among US citizens regarding the disadvantages of taking sugary beverages. The final option is tax regulation; from this option, data has proven to work in other countries.

Involving interest Groups and Stakeholders.

The SSB tax law is done for the community health interest; therefore, the various stakeholders’ opinions can be incorporated. Dialogues and debates are involved at this stage (Themes, 2017). The nursing stakeholders’ groups, such as the American Nurses Association and the American Academy of Nursing, are organizations interested in the public policy process. At this stage, the selected option is taken to the next step.

Implementing the selected policy.

Taxation is an issue that needs state legislation; therefore, the issue will be tabled through a series of regulation policies (Themes, 2017).

Policy impact evaluation.

After one year, the policy impact will be evaluated (Themes, 2017). If it has brought a difference, it will be left alone; however, any changes or modifications required for the policy to work will be considered.

In conclusion, looking at the SSB impact requires developing laws to reduce their intake. Excise taxation has proven to work in other countries and states. Therefore, it can work in other countries. The Longest policy method can provide a platform for law development in Georgia state. The tax can rise from the current 4% to 15 % targeting a 40% reduction in SSB consumption.

References

Anne, M. (2020). How many tablespoons of sugar are in a single energy drink? Retrieved from https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/many-tablespoons-sugar-single-energy-drink-11065.html

Avalara. (2020). Georgia sales tax rates are updated monthly. Retrieved from https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/georgia.html#:~:text=The%20Georgia%20(GA)%20state%20sales,tax%20rate%20is%20currently%204%25

Bleich, S. N., Lawman, H. G., LeVasseur, M. T., Yan, J., Mitra, N., Lowery, C. M., … Roberto, C. A. (2020). The association of a sweetened beverage tax with changes in beverage prices and purchases at independent stores. Health Affairs, 39(7), 1130-1139. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01058

Boston Public Health Commission. (2020). SUGARY DRINKS BY THE NUMBERS. Retrieved from https://www.bphc.org/whatwedo/healthy-eating-active-living/sugar-smarts/be-sugar-smart/Pages/Sugary-Drinks-by-the-Numbers.aspx#:~:text=The%20average%20person%20consumes%20more,sodas%20and%20other%20sugary%20drinks

CDC. (2018, December 21). Sugar-sweetened beverage intake. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/data-statistics/sugar-sweetened-beverages-intake.html

JONES, A., VEERMAN, J., & HAMMOND, D. (2018). THE HEALTH AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF A TAX ON SUGARY DRINKS IN CANADA (Master’s thesis, University of Waterloo). Retrieved from https://www.heartandstroke.ca/-/media/pdf-files/canada/media-centre/the-health-and-economic-impact-of-a-sugary-drink-tax-in-canada-summary.ashx?la=en&hash=69765598FF624EE7D8586EBAD7BCF96835F3FA10

Moreland, J., Kraus (McCormick), E., Long, M., Ward, Z., Giles, C., & Barrett, J. (2018). DENVER: Sugary Drink Excise Tax. Retrieved from https://www.denverpublichealth.org/-/media/dph-files-and-docs/community-health-promotion/heal/choices-denver-sugarydrinktax-report-2018-11-06.pdf?la=en&hash=250B5113CDFCE5404BFF0E13CF5EC1508A561D0A

Process models. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ebrary.net/8231/education/process_models

Tamir, O., Cohen-Yogev, T., Furman-Assaf, S., & Endevelt, R. (2018). Taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages and unhealthy foods: A qualitative study of key opinion leaders’ views. Israel Journal of Health Policy Research, 7(1). doi:10.1186/s13584-018-0240-1

Themes, U. (2017, March 18). The policy process. Retrieved from https://nursekey.com/the-policy-process/

WHO. (, 2018). Taxes on sugary drinks: Why do it? Retrieved from World Health Organization website: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/260253/WHO-NMH-PND-16.5Rev.1-eng.pdf;jsessionid=76CCBA2EE59CF9374C5EEBC7FD369583?sequence=1