The short documents analyses the arguments made by the author in the article Sugar sweetened beverage tax to lwer obesity.

1. Sugar sweetened beverage tax to lower obesity
Critical Thinking: Reasoned Decision Thinking
Ariadna Valle Benitez
A01226305
1. What are the arguments of the DOF article?
High consumption of sugar-added beverages is described as an excess of energy resulting
in the gain of weight in a big percentage of Mexico´s population. They are trying to
convince us that this is one of the main reasons of overweight and why they have to
reduce consumption.
One of the arguments mentioned is the high prevalence of overweight and obesity being
one of the most important health problems in Mexico. They are giving us the problem
that has to be solved with the fiscal measure.
The reasons given are to reduce deaths caused by hypertension and diabetes that can be
acquired, because of the high consumption of this products. They are giving us the
consequences of this habits and the consequences are not to be taken lightly.
They get to the conclusion that with a fiscal measure the reduction of sugar-added
beverages will be reduced.
2. Which consistencies or inconsistencies did you find in the document?
The consistencies in the arguments are the health problems Mexico has with big part of
the population and the reasons of this health problems, being the sugar-added beverages.
They also mention how this problem has been escalating and became a problematic
situation.

2. 3. Which biases or errors did you find in the arguments (bad arguments, fallacies,
omissions, false inferences and deceptive statistics)?
Omissions made in this part of the articles is that they do not mention the size of
population that is involved and how bad the situation actually is, especially in kids. They
don´t give any kind of numbers, so we can compare and see how this can affect us, for
example the number of deaths caused.
They also don´t mention how in other parts of the world this kind of fiscal measures have
worked or why they are choosing this measure. And even if they mentioned how in other
parts the plan was successful we have to consider that in our country we see that
something can affect us, but many tend to ignore the consequences and just continue with
their habits.
Hard evidence is not really shown.
4. Can conclusions be drawn from the arguments?
No, it mentions how bad it can be to drink this kind of beverages and how it can result in
a non-contagious chronic diseases, but at the end it looks as if they are just looking for an
excuse to charge the final consumer and not to improve their health. The article mentions
a solution, but it can be possible that it won´t work.
5. Is the person´s point of view derived from his or her research?
In the article shown they mention the Ministry of Health where they are taking the
information from, so it can be understood that a previous research was made.
6. How are you ordering your own arguments (to avoid being unfocused)?
Reading the article carefully and identifying the analysis made by the person who wrote
it. Also considering why they are mentioning the information in each paragraph and
taking notes about the main ideas/arguments used.

3. In the article they give information of the reasons for creating a new taxation in Mexico
how it has been affecting all of and how treatments can be very expensive taking a
representative amount of money from the public health, but they don´t give representative
numbers/statics that can backup what they are saying.