2023 marks the 5-year anniversary of San Francisco’s soda tax. The revenue has generated millions of dollars for the communities most impacted by sugary drinks and the most targeted by the industry. To celebrate this remarkable achievement, the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Community Health Equity and Promotion Branch and partners hosted a five-year celebration in November 2023. The celebration centered around the key pillars that have made San Francisco a model for the successful implementation of the soda tax: Community, Science, Youth, and Policy.
COMMUNITY
In its first set of budget recommendations, the Sugary Drinks Distributor Tax Advisory Committee (SDDTAC) envisioned soda tax funded community-based grants. SFDPH, in partnership with the San Francisco Public Health Foundation (SFPHF), brought this vision into fruition in 2019 through the Healthy Communities Grants Program, which dedicates $3.5 million annually in soda tax funds to programs reaching San Franciscans most impacted by the beverage industry and supporting long-term sustainable changes that are health promoting, community building, and equity focused. Celebrating the achievements of the community-based soda tax grantees, community gathered to enjoy healthy, delicious foods and family-friendly activities provided by soda tax grantee organizations and partners. The event was held at the Florence Fang Community Farm, a soda tax grantee, on Saturday, November 4, 2023.
Science
Internationally recognized health communication scientist and expert in chronic disease prevention and control, Dr. Dean Schillinger, has been instrumental in local public health regulation of sugary drinks. In partnership with SFDPH, Dr. Schillinger put together a hybrid (in-person and virtual) Zuckerburg San Francisco General Hospital/SF VA Medical Center Grand Rounds on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 to discuss the partnerships that made SF’s soda tax a success and the health implications of the soda tax that have resulted in significant reductions in consumption, investments in new public health programming and health benefits. Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of SF Public Health Department, provided introductory remarks to a dynamic panel of speakers including soda tax pioneers Christina Goette (SF Department of Public Health), Roberto Vargas (UCSF), Dr. Dean Schillinger (UCSF) and Dr. Kristine Madsen (UC Berkeley). Malia Cohen, CA State Controller closed out the grand rounds by sharing her previous work of the soda tax legislation journey in San Francisco when she was District 10 Supervisor.
YOUTH
Scientific evidence links the over consumption of sugary drinks in children and youth to chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and tooth decay. Despite this, the beverage industry specifically targets youth of color to market sugary drinks which further exacerbates health disparities affecting communities of color. Soda Tax dollars are directly fund SF Unified School District (SFUSD) and youth-serving organizations to improve school food, access to water, oral health education and services, and student-led action. Students at San Francisco’s June Jordan School for Equity will celebrated the 5-year soda tax anniversary at Urban Sprouts’ (a soda tax grantee) Farm and Kitchen at June Jordan School For Equity on Thursday, November 9, 2023 during lunch time. Activities included sugary drinks education, a bike blender smoothie station, and infused water tastings with herbs grown by students on the farm.
Policy
The American Heart Association and Sugary Drinks Distributor Tax Advisory Committee co-hosted a virtual panel of policy champions (Senator Scott Wiener), grassroots organizers (Lolis Ramirez), community (Vanessa Bohm) and physician (Dr. John Maa) advocates, researchers (Roberto Vargas), and public health professionals (Dr. Susan Philip) to look at the lessons learned and future of sugary drink policies. Expertly co-hosted by Abby Cabrera, Co-chair of the Sugary Drinks Distributor Tax Advisory Committee, and moderated by Blythe Young, Community Advocacy Director for the American Heart Association, the cross-cutting theme that emerged was about the strength and power in community.
Click here to view panel recording on YouTube.