Soda taxes: Let’s educate low-income folks instead | Tacoma News Tribune

Re: “Don’t drink the Kool-Aid on Initiative 1634,” (TNT editorial, 10/10).

There’s no proof a soda tax will reduce obesity, but perhaps educating people in how to plan, shop and cook healthy foods will.

This could be done through the Health Department since lower-income people seem most at risk for a diet consisting of food that’s frozen, comes out of a can or eaten at a fast food restaurant.

Perhaps such a program could be linked to approval for food stamps.

Your editorial mentions that some cities might adopt a soda tax to fund a variety of civic projects. This is exactly why I-1634 should be enacted. This loophole should be closed so that it doesn’t become another burden for taxpayers.

Soda taxes are touted as a sin tax that’s the cure for obesity linked to sugar-laden drinks. Exactly what evidence proves that obesity rates have fallen in areas where a soda tax is in existence?

This is just a backdoor way for cities to enact another tax burden with unspecified directives on how the money is to be spent.

There are more straightforward ways to fund civic projects.