Carlmont students do not agree on whether or not San Francisco’s proposed tax on all soda drinks is truly a necessity.
San Francisco supervisor Scott Weiner developed this new tax measure, which will increase the price of all soda sales in San Francisco by two cents per ounce of beverage, if passed in the November 2014 vote. The revenues will be used to fund health programs, as well as being used to support nutrition and activity events and organizations.
The new soda tax will be placed on any drink with 25 or more calories that has added sugar sweeteners or is less than 50 percent fruit or vegetable juice. This tax is estimated to make around $31 million per year, if passed.
Carlmont students are divided on the issue. Sophomore Cassidy Sobey said, “I don’t support it at all” and continued by saying “I understand it’s for health, but that’s too extreme. The tax should not be imposed.”
Sobey’s view is shared among many Carlmont students. Some, like Sobey, do not agree that this is truly necessary and is simply unreasonable.
As an alternative, Sobey later suggested that instead of imposing a tax to prevent excessive consumption of soda, that the city government simply needs to advocate for more public awareness on possible health effects.
Other students feel differently than Sobey. Football player Lucas Coley said, “This will be a step in the right direction, simply because soda is so detrimental to your health.”
Some students agree with Coley. They believe that excessive soda drinking is a genuine problem because it can lead to obesity, diabetes, and other health problems.
However, Coley did go on to say, “Soda is not like cigarettes. It does not directly kill you.”
While soda has been scientifically proven to be bad for your health, the general consensus is that it is harmful, but it has not yet proven itself to be a major issue like tobacco. Others who support the tax on soda agree that it is not a serious or life-threatening problem.
Carlmont students are very divided on whether or not this tax is truly a necessity and should be imposed. However, some students do not believe that the tax will be successful in its goal of trying to reduce soda consumption.
Athlete Vianka Adamovitch said, “I don’t really think it will work that well. If you want a soda, you’re going to buy a soda.”
Students agreed that the new soda tax would be a great achievement in providing funding for health programs, but most do not think that it will in any way reduce soda consumption, especially among teens.
Carlmont students are raving with mixed thoughts on the possible soda tax in San Francisco.
