Soda Tax coming for New Yorkers

New York state politicians are proposing a 12-cent tax on every purchase of a can of preferred soft drink.

New York’s state governor, David Paterson, is backing the proposal to help recoup some of the billions of dollars spend each year on medical treatment for people battling diabetes and other obesity related illnesses.

The proposal stems from reports that Americans consume on average up to 189 litres of soft drinks a year.  Many fast food restaurants have also been known to offer a 2-litre size of soft drink on their menus.

New York State is slated to be the first state in the country to impose the tax on soft drinks.  Other states will most likely be implementing the “soda tax” in the very near future.

Health officials have often announced that non-diet soft drinks are filled with empty calories.  They have also stated that soft drinks are a contributing factor to the ever-increasing number of obese people in the United States.

The soda tax however has brought some anger from the American Beverage Association, which they believe the proposed tax is nothing but a cash grab for the government.  The association states that instead of targeting soft drinks, governments should focus on the overall consumption of foods and beverages, and encourage physical activity among Americans.

Companies such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi are looking for positive publicity by teaming up with former president Bill Clinton, and announcing their intentions to decrease the volume of high sugar filled drinks sold to students at schools across the US.

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One Response to “Soda Tax coming for New Yorkers”

1. Jamie Ann Wilson says:

   March 10, 2010 at 7:22 am

   This is ridiculous ! So now when I have a bunch of my kids friends over and I feed them pizza and serve soda and other soft drinks it is just going to cost me more. If “they” want to promote healthy options, then why not make fruit less expensive and more available. This is a backwards way to promote health options, it is just another way to take more money from everybody. So everybody in those commercials on TV who have a party will not serve soda? I doubt it.
   Not happy about this, more research should have been done.
   Thanks for letting me vent! Jamie Ann Wilson