The idea of a soda tax is controversial in the United States but keeps coming up.

Here in Texas, San Antonio state Rep. Joe Farias has filed a bill that would add a penny-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks, including sodas. Farias says it could raise upward of $2 billion to fund public education. Even with cuts to public education constantly looming, many people are still skeptical. Farias says much of the tax revenue would go into a Children's Health Promotion Account. Of that, 80 percent would go to the Texas Education Agency to fund health programs such as physical education, and the remaining 20 percent would go to the Department of State Health Services for training and assistance of public school programs.

Beverages exempt from the proposed tax include coffee, no-calorie drinks, vegetable and fruit juices, drinks with more than 0.5 percent alcohol, sports drinks, unsweetened milk and baby formula.

Farias said the intent of the bill is not to discourage Texans from drinking sodas but instead is akin to paying taxes on alcohol or cigarettes. Surely individuals who enjoy soda will not be deterred by a 12-cent tax on a 12-ounce soda, but some restaurants are not so sure. Many Texas restaurateurs are speaking out against the idea, saying people may drink less soda or just drink water to avoid the tax.

The question is, will this help to promote more-healthful choices? Several studies on this subject have been done, and the overall consensus is most likely no.


There is also a problem with choosing sugary beverages to tax in that it makes them a scapegoat for our nation's health problems. Obesity, this argument goes, is caused by poor decisions made over time in many areas of one's life, not just choice of beverages.

Many people also believe soda taxes discriminate against lower-income people because they often buy and consume these beverages. There also are many arguments in favor of the tax:

While targeting sugary beverages might seem unfair, 43 percent of the additional daily calories Americans consumed between 1977 and 2001 came from sugary drinks. Surely it would be good to cut down on beverages that contain large amounts of sugar and no other nutrients? Soda companies have the power of marketing on their side to make sugary beverage consumption appear benign.

In addition, surveys done on individuals who live in low-income neighborhoods show an overall support of soda taxes.

The main argument in favor of the tax, however, is that the extra money would help fund public education including programs to promote health and physical activity, which is likely to have a positive effect on Texans' health.

So, where do you stand regarding a soda tax?

Sara Peidle, M.S., R.D., L.D., has been a registered and licensed dietitian in Texas since 2006. She completed her graduate degree in kinesiology from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2011. She works for DaVita Dialysis and teaches for the El Paso Community College.