CA Legislator Proposes Soft Drink Tax to Fight Childhood Obesity

A California state legislator is proposing to levy a tax on soft drinks and use the funds to help fight the growing problem of childhood obesity.

Sen. Deborah Ortiz has introduced a bill that would charge soft drink bottlers 21 cents per gallon of bottled drinks and $2 per gallon of syrup, a tax which she estimates would raise $342 million a year.

Half the amount raised would offered to schools as incentives to drop contracts to sell certain soft drinks. The remainder of the money would be used to fund public health and childhood obesity prevention programs.

"It is not my intention to demonize soda," said Ortiz. "The problem is that Americans have lost sight of moderation, and fail to recognize how many additional calories soda adds to their diets."

Other sources: California Media, Sen. Ortiz