Taxing tobaccos and cigarettes has led to some people actually stopping their bad habits since they cannot afford it anymore. I know we cannot exactly deter soda drinkers, so why can’t we just do the same with sugary drinks as we did with cigarettes?

Barry Popkin, a professor from the University of North Carolina, said that we should look at how taxing tobacco has minimized the risk of cancer, and then do the same with cigarettes to halt obesity.

“I’d like a system where sugary drinks were taxed the most, diet drinks less and water not at all . . . f that tax added even 15 or 20 percent to the cost, it would have a significant effect on weaning society off sugary drinks,” Popkin said.

This might sound a little too barbaric and socialist for some. But really, those who cannot afford to get sick must stay away from sufary drinks like colas and certain “fruit juices.”