Why sweetened beverage tax is OK

Cook County is facing a health crisis. Rates of chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and obesity are skyrocketing, and the health of our families and future generations is at risk.

Sugary drinks are the largest source of added sugar in the American diet. As a cardiologist, I see firsthand the heavy toll that an unhealthy diet has on my patients. The price people pay with their health is a very real "regressive tax" on all of us, but especially those in minority communities. That's why I support the sweetened beverage tax proposed by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in the 2017 budget.

While there is no one cure for our county's chronic disease crisis, we know that reducing consumption of sugary drinks can make a big impact. A sweetened beverage tax would improve the health of the residents in our communities and reduce the burden on all county taxpayers who are ultimately "on the hook" for costs associated with chronic disease.

I urge the commissioners to vote for the sweetened drink tax, and to invest a significant portion of the revenue in public health programs in the county's most vulnerable neighborhoods. Our communities have been ravaged by the effects of sugary drinks for years, and it's time to fight back.

Dr. Andrew Rauh

Elmhurst