Taxing Soft Drinks

In the New York Times there's an article on how the mayor of San Fransisco, Gavin Newsom, has proposed a tax on high fructose soft drinks saying they are play a major role in the obesity epidemic.

This is a poor idea given that high fructose corn syrup can easily be replaced with cane sugar, having little effect on the taste of the beverage, but just as many negative health consequences.

Also, the tax would result in increased revenue for for the state but be of little benefit to the public.