JCOM 2300: Really a Soda Tax?

With as much publicity as health care reform is getting right now it's easy for other issues of similar concerns to be lost. One which has been a fringe issue and is slowly making its way into mainstream media is the idea of a soda tax. Supporters for the tax propose a small tax being added to the purchase price of soft drinks. The revenue that is created from the tax could be used to offset the cost of universal health care if legislation moves in that direction.
Personally I don't like it a bit. In the end the tax would punish people for drinking soda, something that many Americans do and it could really be debated how on damaging it really is to a person's health. Anything you eat or drink could be argued to be unhealthy if used in excessive amounts. Taxing soda labels it as something with severe implications to a persons health, and sorry in my view soda is not as damaging as cigarettes. So in the end I really hope this tax doesn't go through.
Luckily for me and any like minded people the soda companies are doing a lot of work early to make sure this tax doesn't go through. This week Coca-Cola has announced a campaign that is in the works which will, 1) Inform the public of the companies efforts to counter obesity and 2) Show how a soda tax will not effect obesity or help health care reform. Coca-Cola's early work and preparation will pay off according to Gene Grabowski, SVP of Levick Strategic Communications,
“One of the advantages that industry has is if they do get out in front of the issue and paint the picture first, it will be difficult for Congress or someone in the government to be able to create an effective picture that can counter it.”
I agree with Grabowski, timing is everything. First impressions are everything. If you are the first or the last to say something your chances of being remembered by your targeted public are greatly increased. With the revenue that companies like Coke and Pepsi have, combined with the fact that they will beat supporters of a soda tax to the public this battle is one that is over before it ever began.
Source: prweekus.com