You might have read a recent column by anti-soda activists Harold Goldstein and Jeffrey Ritterman that praises efforts to tax soft drinks.  These two would have you believe that the science behind supporting soda tax proposals to reduce obesity is solid.  Well, we have news for you: it’s not.  In fact, the only solid science is that which has found that maintaining a healthy weight is a function of balancing calories – those we consume from all foods, and those we expend through physical activity and exercise.

On top of that, common sense tells us that taxes don’t make people healthier.  And we know that people in the U.S. don’t support taxes and bans on common grocery items, like soft drinks.  So, why don’t we all keep the public policy debate moving on from taxes and bans and onto real solutions?

What you eat, drink and feed your family is your choice and does not need government control, oversight or influence. If we want to get serious about obesity, it starts with education – not laws and regulation.