Sugar is not a substance the body requires to function

For many, people put sugar into a similar category as table salt, but that’s not quite right. They're great for cooking and baking, 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 form of sugar. Glucose is a monosaccharide; this means it’s sugar in it’s simplest form, and the body doesn’t need to break it down for use, and it’s absorbed directly into the bloodstream.^[2] With other sugars like sucrose, a disaccharide, that means the body has to go through the extra effort to break it down. Sucrose is also 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 affect the liver and have long term adverse effects. Sugar is unhealthy when consumed in large quantities and can cause various health problems over time.^[3] It is associated with growing obesity levels, as well as certain health conditions, such as Type 2 Diabetes. 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.

[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