Talk of a “sugar tax” in the US and New York's decision next month to ban sugary drinks in restaurants and theatres to young children has people  abuzz about whether it’s an American thing to financially punish people for drinking soda or not. I say go ahead and tax soda, and here are five good reasons why:

1. Soda is one more cause of the climate crisis. We have exported our carbon dioxide addiction all around the world. Just think of the costs in fuel to ship it—and the emissions produced. Maybe if we stop drinking so much of it, the appeal of American sodas will decline elsewhere. And at least in most other countries, the local soda is still made with real sugar!

2. Yeah, yeah, yeah…high-fructose corn syrup. HFCS is only cheaper than sugar because our government subsidizes the toxic, poisonous farming of corn in order to keep chemical companies (and maybe big tractor companies, too) in business. Plus, studies have shown that high-fructose corn syrup has mercury in it. So all those moms who think (incorrectly) that mercury in vaccines causes autism had better not be giving their kids soda!

3. Diet soda causes people to make poor decisions. According to a recent study, people who drink diet sodas think they are getting some energy, but their bodies still feel starved, so they kick into famine mode. Which basically means that the future doesn’t matter, all that matters is getting a next dose of fuel—hence, impulsive, short-term thinking. Amazing.

4. Soda isn’t really thirst quenching anyway. Did you ever really, really pay attention to how your mouth feels when you drink a soda? All that sugar kind of sucks out the liquids from your mouth and leaves a taste that is so icky you have to eat something to get rid of it. So not only are you getting empty calories from your drink, but you are urged to snack, too.


5. Fountain soda has fecal matter in it! It’s been a bad couple of weeks for soda in the news. Another study just this past week found that more than 40 percent of all fountain sodas have traces of fecal matter germs in them. It’s not in the ice, it’s in the soda itself. This was highly disappointing to me personally, since when I do have soda, I really like to have fountain soda with lots of ice in it to water it down and make it somewhat more thirst quenching. Now even that is off limits to me. I look at that cup of Coke with a lid and a straw and think, fecal matter? No thanks.

The only time I really bring soda into my house is when we are sick. There is nothing quite like a real coke or ginger ale to soothe an aching stomach. It’s medicine, really, and frankly, I think it should be treated as such. Think of all the plastic bottles, sugar, and toxic GMO corn we can keep out of the waste stream (and our bodies) if we stop drinking soda routinely.

Thirsty? Buy bottled water instead. YES, bottled water. It’s thirst quenching, has zero calories, and is damn good for you. Of course, you can fill your reusable water bottle with local tap water for free, instead of paying too much for water that’s been shipped and is probably municipal water anyway. And you should. But if you are at a gas station and need something to drink, pass over the soda and don’t feel guilty if a cold bottle of water hits the spot. (Just recycle that bottle.)

IN New York City next month, a ban is set to start on the sale of extra-large servings of sugary soft drinks in restaurants and movie theatres.

The city approved the ban late last year and they did it to help fight the problem of obesity in the city.

It was proposed by New York City’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg, and approved by the New York City Board of Health in September 2012.

Under the new rule, businesses that have food-service licences – such as restaurants, theatres, delis, fast-food places, hot dog stands and sports stadiums – would not be allowed to sell what Americans  call  "pop" - fizzy soft drinks -  in containers larger than 500 ml.

People would still be able to buy supersized drinks at convenience stores, vending machines and some newsstands.

The rule would not apply to fruit juices, diet pop, alcoholic beverages or dairy-based products like milkshakes or coffee drinks.

Mayor Bloomberg says he believes the new rule will help save lives. More than half of all adults in New York City are obese or overweight, according to the city’s health department. Obesity can lead to health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol. Studies have shown a strong link between drinking sugary drinks and obesity.

In January, the American Beverage Association went to court to stop the ban. The association represents companies like Coca Cola and PepsiCo, which make soft drinks.

They say the ban restricts personal freedom of choice for consumers. They also argue that it will have a bad impact on many small businesses, because customers will go to stores that are allowed to sell large drinks.

Other groups have joined with the beverage association to fight the ban, including the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), which represents African Americans, and the Hispanic Federation, which represents Spanish-speaking residents in the northeastern United States. They say the ban will be especially hard on the minority groups they represent.

These groups say that many small restaurants and delis in New York are owned by African-American or Hispanic people. They argue that if customers can’t buy large soft drinks at these places, they will go to convenience stores owned by big companies like 7-11, where they can still buy supersized drinks.

The mayor argues everyone will benefit from the ban.