Soda Tax Leaves Beverage Industry Flat

ATLANTA -- There is renewed talk in Washington about creating a so-called "soda tax." But companies like Atlanta-based Coca-Cola say it's just a way for Congress to raise money, and that they're already giving consumers, including kids, healthy choices.

The idea behind the tax is to make the beverage industry pay billions of dollars for health care costs associated with high-sugar drinks.

"Sugar sweetened beverages are now the number one source of calories," said Emory G.I. Pediatrician Dr. Miriam Vos. "So this is a huge place where people are maybe getting their excess calories."

And for youngsters critics say the effects are already being seen with early obesity and diabetes.

"My mother never let us have soda when we were young, and since that time we haven't had any soda whatsoever," said Lynette Ponce, "and for my son I'm definitely not going to let him drink soda."

But like many, the Ponce family is divided. While mom and little Aiden don't drink any soda, dad still gets his prescription from Dr. Pepper.

"I drink soda, and I like it," said Javier Ponce. "But I think it's a good idea especially for the younger kids to have them stay away from the sodas."

Coca-Cola carbonates the local economy and stands with the beverage industry, which has taken full-calorie drinks out of most schools. In a statement the American Beverage Association says "Cutting calories in schools reinforces skills for a lifetime. Discriminatory taxes just raise revenues."

Many consumers agree.

"We already get taxed enough," laughed Susan Arnett as she watched her child play. "I don't think it would be a good idea. I mean some people need to lay off of them and some people don't."

But doctors insist they should at least try.

"There are certainly harmful health effects," said Dr. Vos. "So you can see increased weight gain. And there's actually an association with cardio vascular disease risk."