Today Monday, February 25, 2013, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser featured an article titled "A fee on sugary drinks?" Basically, the soda tax bill offers a way to pay for an anti-obesity program according to George Kent, professor emeritus in political science with the University of Hawaii, specializing in food policy issues. Mr. Kent states that the program would work through schools, public, or private, that choose to participate. He said, "The objective would be to steadily reduce the incidence of obesity in children in these schools over time, and then maintain it at a low level to be determined, based on assessments of the proportion of 10-year-old children who are obese."
Here in Hawaii, we already have an epidemic of children now getting Type 2 diabetes. Would the soda tax decrease child obesity in our state? What about a decrease in Type 2 diabetes? Mr. Kent believes funding should be continued only until child obesity is no longer a major public health concern in Hawaii.
The opposing side to the soda tax is Mr. Jeff Matthijssen, plant manager of Ball Hawaii Can Plant. He states, "This issue is personal to me and it should be personal to every person living in our community. As an employee of Ball Hawaii Can Plant, a company with a long and well regarded history in the state, the consequences of taxing soft drinks could put my job, and that of my 45 fellow employees, in jeopardy."
Do you think that a soda tax would really eliminate Hawaii jobs? How do you feel about your child drinking sugary drinks like soda? In addition, why are these children not drinking water? As a parent you make the ultimate decision as to what your child will consume.
What are your thoughts on the soda tax bill? Please leave your comments and concerns below.
Source: Honolulu Star-Advertiser
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