Sugar is not a substance the body requires to function
The body only really requires glucose to function properly. Glucose helps create insulin. It's a monosaccharide and one of the most simple sugars found in almost everything a person consumes. Sucrose, table sugar, on the other hand is a disaccharide found in most sweets and not required to function.
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The Argument
What is sugar? In the most simplest of terms, sugar is C12H22O11, more commonly known as sucrose or table sugar. For many, people put sugar into a similar category as NaCl, sodium chloride or table salt, but that’s not quite right. They're great for seasoning and cooking but there's one major difference between salt and sugar. While both are consumed in rather large quantities its only salt that’s required for the human body to function properly.[1]
The reason for this is that humans consume glucose from carbohydrates, the bodies preferred sugar. Glucose is a monosaccharide, this means it’s a sugar in it’s simplest form and the body doesn’t need to break it down for use, it’s absorbed directly into the bloodstream.[2] With sugars like sucrose it’s a disaccharide, that means the body has to go through the extra effort to break it down. Not only that but sucrose is metabolized differently from glucose. The body breaks it down into glucose and fructose. Fructose is another type of monosaccharide but unlike glucose it doesn’t immediately impact sugar levels. It can also negatively effect the liver and have long term negative effects.
Sugar is unhealthy when consumed in large quantities and can cause various health problems over time.[3] Taxing sugar is a smart option because even a small tax will generate a high amount of revenue. Seeing as it's not vital for survival it might also allow for people to turn to other, healthier options. Sugar is not like water or salt where humans need it to survive, it's an indulgence.
Counter arguments
While the body doesn't need sugar to function it also doesn't reject sugar like other substances. Humans have always been drawn to foods that they consider 'delicious' and sugar is just one of the things that usually falls into that category.
Much like chocolate, consuming sugar releases endorphins which makes people feel happy, which can then form a craving or habit.[4] As in can take many forms it can also have many outlets for creation and consumption.
As an ingredient its extremely versatile, not just having a place in desserts but used to make spices pop in rub or get that caramelization on meats. Sugar is used to enhance flavors and while sugar can effect someones health a persons diet is not entirely made up of sugary substances.
While taxing sugar would generate a large amount of money it's unfair to tax it when it's considered a commodity. Unlike a sales tax which can charge food items cooked and made by the store or restaurant, sugar is a raw material that’s transformed into something else. To tax it when it’s in this form would influence prices in a cascade effect where prices on everything that contains sugar will increase, not just sugar.
Proponents
Premises
[P1] The body only needs glucose, not sucrose (which is most if not all refined sugar)
[P2] Sugar is unhealthy for the body and can cause health problems when consumed in large quantities
Rejecting the premises
References
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/take-it-with-a-grain-of-salt
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sucrose-glucose-fructose#absorption-and-use
- https://theconversation.com/a-history-of-sugar-the-food-nobody-needs-but-everyone-craves-49823
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201302/why-our-brains-love-sugar-and-why-our-bodies-dont