Statement from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Dr. Kelly Henning on Pennsylvania Supreme Court Upholding Philadelphia’s Sugary Drink Tax

Following is a statement from Dr. Kelly Henning, head of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ public health programs, on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upholding Philadelphia’s sugary drink tax:

“In upholding Philadelphia’s sweetened beverage tax, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has delivered a major victory to every community that values good nutrition, better health, and strong futures for kids and families. The industry’s slick marketing campaigns cannot hide the fact that sugary drinks have no nutritional value and contribute to significantly higher risks for a variety of chronic diseases. Philadelphia’s tax is working exactly as intended—sales of sweetened beverages have declined and the revenue raised has funded thousands of pre-k seats, new community schools, and upgrades to parks, recreation centers and libraries. We urge other cities across the country and around the world to follow Philadelphia’s example and put consumers’ health ahead of industry profits.”

Background on Bloomberg & Obesity Prevention

Michael R. Bloomberg has long been focused on improving public health—during his time as New York City Mayor, in his work through his foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and now in his role as the World Health Organization Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases. Through the Obesity Prevention Program, Bloomberg Philanthropies has committed over $130 million to support public health policies aimed at reducing obesity in Mexico, the Caribbean (Jamaica & Barbados), Colombia, Brazil, South Africa, and the United States. Read more.

Media contact: Jean Weinberg, jean@bloomberg.org or +1-212-205-0247