Introduction
In the 21st century, public health has become a major issue of concern among health authorities and policy makers. Due to unhealthy dietary habits, such as the consumption of sugary beverages, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, has increased significantly. To combat this concerning trend and improve public health, governments must create and implement effective policies that target these unhealthy dietary habits. One such policy is a tax on sugary drinks, which has already been implemented in numerous countries and jurisdictions around the world. In this paper, the Longest’s policy cycle model will be used to structure a proposed policy of taxing sugared sodas/pop/beverages in a given community.
Implementations of the Longest’s Policy Cycyle Model
The Longest’s policy cycle model is a helpful resource for analyzing and grasping the policy-making process. It is composed of four phases: agenda setting, policy formulation, policy implementation, and policy evaluation (Meacham, 2020). During agenda setting, the issue or problem to be addressed is identified and the objectives and aims of the policy are established. Policy formulation then involves constructing the policy, which entails the legal framework, financing, and implementation strategy. Policy implementation consists of carrying out the policy, including the enforcement of the policy and the supply of services or other benefits. Lastly, policy evaluation necessitates assessing the effectiveness of the policy and making modifications, if needed.
In the case of a sugary beverage tax, the agenda setting stage would involve identifying the issue of high consumption of sugary beverages and the goal of reducing its consumption in order to improve public health. The policy formulation stage serves to create relevant regulations, determine the tax rate and exemptions, and to establish a funding source for the policy. The policy implementation stage includes enforcing the tax, as well as providing educational and health promotional services to support healthier beverage consumption. As for the policy evaluation stage, it involves assessing the effectiveness of the policy and making appropriate changes if needed.
Arguments for the Policy
In support of the proposed policy, it is argued that sugared beverages are associated with an elevated risk of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses, and thus, a decrease in their consumption would be beneficial for public health. Furthermore, taxation has been demonstrated to have an effect on consumer habits, and a tax on sugared beverages could lead to a decrease in their consumption (Kokubo et al., 2019). Thus, the money generated from the tax could be used to put into effect public health initiatives such as obesity prevention programs and nutrition education.
Arguments Against the Policy
Opponents of a policy to tax sugared beverages may argue that such a policy is unfair and would have a negative impact on businesses. It could be argued that the proposed policy would be regressive, disproportionately impacting lower-income households. Additionally, it may be said that the policy unfairly targets sugary drinks while ignoring other sources of added sugar in the diet (Kokubo et al., 2019). Overall, the policy could result in lost revenue for soda/pop/beverage companies and increased prices for consumers.
Getting Buy-in
The fourth step in the Longest’s policy cycle model is getting buy-in from stakeholders. In order for the policy to be successful, it is important to get support from key stakeholders. These stakeholders can include government officials, health experts, public health advocates, industry representatives, and community members (Meacham, 2020). In order to get buy-in, it is important to engage these stakeholders in the process, listen to their concerns, and address their arguments (Meacham, 2020). In addition, it is essential to involve the various stakeholders in the policy-making process. This includes public health professionals, policy makers, beverage industry representatives, consumers, and other relevant stakeholders. These stakeholders should be engaged in the agenda setting, policy formulation, and policy implementation stages of the policy cycle. Ensuring that stakeholders are consulted on any proposed changes to the policy, and that they are kept informed of any developments is another important element.
Stakeholder Groups
To ensure the successful implementation of a policy of taxing sugared beverages, it is important to collaborate with stakeholder groups in its promotion. This involves government departments, businesses, non-governmental organizations, public sector unions, individual citizens, and other interested parties (Forberger et al., 2022).These stakeholders can provide valuable insight into the policy, its implications, and the potential consequences of its implementation. Additionally, they can provide the necessary resources, such as funding, support, and manpower, to ensure the success of the policy. Involving stakeholders in the policy cycle will help to ensure a successful outcome and create a more sustainable policy
Conclusion
To summarize, a comprehensive and collaborative effort is necessary in order to develop an effective policy that reduces sugary beverage consumption and improves public health. The Longest’s policy cycle model can be leveraged to structure a proposed policy of taxing sugared sodas/pop/beverages, as well as to evaluate the pros and cons of the policy. Obtaining support for the policy is essential, and so it is important to involve all stakeholders in the policy-making process. By utilizing a health policy model when creating a policy change, governments have the potential to create a healthier diet environment and improve public health.
References
Forberger, S., Reisch, L., Meshkovska, B., Lobczowska, K, Scheller, D. A., Wendt, J., Christianson,
L., Frense, J., Steinacker, J. M., Luszczynska, A. & Zeeb, H. (2022). Sugar-sweetened beverage tax implementation processes: Results of a scoping review. Health Research Policy Systems, 20, 33. Web.
Kokubo, Y., Higashiyama, A., Watanabe, M. & Miyamoto, Y. (2019). A comprehensive policy for reducing sugar beverages for healthy life extension. Environmental Health Preventive Medicine, 24, 13. Web.
Meacham, M. R. (2020). Longest’s health policymaking in the United States. Health Administration Press.