As mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom proposed charging big stores a fee when they sell sugar-sweet soda, the American Beverage Association (ABA) has decided to go out and point the finger at video games for the city’s obesity problem.
According to The San Francisco Chronicle, Newsom’s proposal would put an as yet-to-be-defined surcharge on all drinks with high-fructose corn syrup, which puts the sweet pop in most nondiet sodas and many other food products. The syrup also puts on the pounds, something city officials say strains the health care system, reported the International Tribune Herald.
However, the soft drink companies called the plan a “flawed strategy.”
“It makes no sense to single out any one single cause of obesity, which is a complex problem,” said Kevin Keane, a senior vice president of ABA.
The ABA, which represents the U.S. beverage industry of producers and bottlers of soft drinks, bottled water, and other nonalcoholic beverages, said video games are the real problem. According to the trade organization, Mayor Newsom should go after computer and video game companies, which Keane said lured and kept children indoors when they should “be burning calories outside.”
Nevertheless, the soda proposal will be introduced to the Board of Supervisors early next year and should only affect large retailers.
