After a soda tax ballot was passed in Berkeley, Calif. in November 2014, the city has been one of the only one in the U.S. that taxes sugary drinks sold. Berkeley’s tax rate is one cent per fluid ounce of sugary drinks. Now, officials will set up a ballot in Nov. 8, 2016 to find out if this tax should be implemented in San Francisco. The tax in San Francisco, if implemented, would also be one cent per ounce of sugary drinks purchased.
The implementation of the tax may result in a decrease in health risks in the San Francisco area. Sophomore Maia Bhaumik, who supports the tax, says, “I think that soda tax can lower the risk of diabetes, and we really should try to keep our citizens healthy by passing the tax. I do think there will be a big possibility for diabetes to decrease, since from the studies I’ve seen there is a decline in the consumption. And at this rate, San Francisco can also decline in diabetes, but it may not be as noticeable.”
Freshman Srishty Bhavsar believes the tax, if passed, may decrease pollution in the state. She says, “With this tax, I think there would be [a] reduction of bottles in the community that could harm our ecosystems and environment. It can decrease the amount of trash being put in the landfills.”
Junior Gabby Navarro opposes the soda tax because she believes it will harm less privileged individuals. She says, “This bill should not be passed since it leaves the unhealthier things for rich people. The poor people will be healthy, but they are left with one less resource. There would be more poverty, since common things such as soda and tea are being at higher prices.”
Physical education teacher Linda Brown opposes this tax, since she thinks it is controlling the freedom of what someone should and should not drink. She says, “It is just another tax that will make people do what others think they should do. People have a choice to drink that sugary drink or not, and the government is telling me I can’t do it.” She continues, “If one county has this tax, then they would drive to another one for the soda.”
In the end, the benefits of the tax may not carry through, since people might want to drink their soda anyway. Health teacher Barbara Beaumont says, “People who are addicted to the sugar are still going to get the sugar from either the soda or the sugary beverages.” She continues, “It is hard to say if the tax will work or not, but from the studies I’ve seen, there is a decrease in the amount of soda being purchased.”
Beaumont adds, “Hopefully people will just not want to spend their money on the soda, and go for the water instead, which is ultimately the best for them.”
All in all, time will tell whether the soda tax’s benefits outweigh the cons.
