Well, Sip & Savor has spent much time this week and prior weeks talking about the flaws in arguments and data presented by advocates who want to raise taxes on your groceries, including soft drinks, juice drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages.

Today, we came across an interesting perspective from a neutral source that's worth sharing. This is an anecdotal piece of writing, but it's one with relevance that we think most of us can relate to on some level.

Now, we present this not to suggest that there's no childhood obesity, or that we shouldn't focus as a nation on reducing it. But in order to address childhood obesity, we must put the issue in its proper context. Not the sound-bite context that advocates and some in the media choose. The sensationalism. And we must seek comprehensive solutions based on education, balanced diets and exercise in order to effectively deal with the problem. Taxes don't make people healthy.

As we've always said about soft drinks. Yes, regular soda has calories; at about 140 per can that's not an inordinate amount of calories...but regular soda does have them.

But let's keep things in perspective. Soft drinks are a refreshment beverage meant to be enjoyed. And you can be a healthy person and enjoy regular soft drinks. Tens of millions of Americans are proof.
Jack Cashill, an Emmy-award-winning writer and producer based in Boston, adds to this perspective in his column. Click on the hyperlink and enjoy.