A sugary drink ban in New York City failed to catch on last month, but that doesn't mean that politicians are ready to throw in the towel just yet. Now, a proposed tax on soda is one of 2189 bills being considered by California lawmakers.
"This bill will combat the obesity crisis and ensure that our children-- and future generations of Californians-- are not doomed to a shorter life expectancy and can instead live longer, healthier lives,'' says State. Se. Bill Monning (D-Carmel), who introduced the legislation.
If passed, the bill would issue a one cent tax on each ounce of soda sold in California. While Monning sees it as a way to promote health among Califonia's increasingly overweight population, others don't see it the same way.
"Taxes shouldn't be a tool for social engineering or an instrument to penalize Californians for doing nothing wrong," said J. Justin Wilson, senior research analyst at the Center for Consumer Freedom. "Residents of California don't need a PhD in nutrition to tell them that eating or drinking too much of anything is unhealthy; it only takes a little common sense and personal responsibility."
While the issues of personal liberties and the government's role in our personal lives are still very much debatable, there seems to be little question as to whether or not soda is bad for us. A new study has just proven that sugary drinks increases the risk of adult-onset diabetes by upwards of 22%.
"The bottom line is that sugary soft drinks are not good for you - they have no nutritional value and there is evidence that drinking them every day can increase your relative risk for type 2 diabetes," says Patrick Wolfe, a statistics expert from University College London not involved with the study.
But it doesn't stop there, as there have also been statistically relevant correlations found between sugary drinks, including soda, and other illnesses as well.
"Aside from sugar, there are nine other potentially dangerous ingredients in soda, including carcinogenic artificial colors and phosphoric acid, which can contribute to everything from obesity to cancer to the depletion of micronutrients essential for strong bones," noted Jayson Calton, co-author of Rich Food, Poor Food.
The bill was proposed before the California legislature's Friday deadline for new bills. It is now on the lawmakers' agenda and will be voted on sometime this year.