Today, there’s more news on that front.  According to a new survey 64 percent of respondents oppose a 20 percent tax on soda.  You can read more about the survey, and its strengths and weaknesses, in an article posted just this afternoon on Forbes.com.

In fact, the authors admittedly used assumptions based on ‘lacking or inconclusive’ evidence.  Even so, they estimate their proposed tax would result in an average weight loss of less than one pound per year.  For those trying to lose weight, clearly this would be a discouraging, never mind ineffective, approach. Yet the authors allege that their proposal would save 26,000 lives – over a 10-year period.

Let’s be clear:  this is yet another attempt by researchers and their supporters who have long advocated discriminatory taxes on beverages to promote a beverage tax. … nothing more, nothing less.

You can read our response to the paper here, but we thought we’d point out a couple of key points:

• As we’ve noted before, taxes won’t make people healthier, diet and exercise do.
• There is nothing unique about our products and their ingredients when it comes to obesity, or obesity-related diseases such as diabetes or coronary disease.
• Consumers simply don’t support these taxes.  In fact, they recognize them for what they truly are – a money grab to raise revenue to fund more government.

We know that the notion of placing discriminatory taxes on our products is not going away – especially while governments at all levels continue to face budget shortfalls.  But we also know that the American public simply doesn’t support these taxes – and that we, as a collective industry, will continue to push back on these proposals as we did in 2011 in Philadelphia, Hawaii, Rhode Island and Texas, to name a few.

We can also predict that there will be more studies – or perhaps unpublished abstracts – reported on by the media that will attempt to impugn our products and ingredients.  There is no question – we will continue to point out any flaws that exist in those forthcoming studies, as well as inaccuracies in the reporting of them.  But most importantly, we’ll respond with the facts, which will be based in sound science.

The year ahead also will include industry’s ongoing innovation.  The beverage aisle is sure to look a bit different in a number of ways, as our industry continues to provide more low- and no-calorie and smaller-portion choices.  And of course, we can’t overlook the fact that our industry’s wide array of products will include new calorie labels with our Clear on Calories initiative.

Here at Sip & Savor, we’re eager for all that is to come, and we hope you are, too – no matter what lies ahead in 2012!

We’ve provided a lot of information about our member companies’ products and programs, including our Clear on Calories and School Beverage Guidelines initiatives.  And that includes clearing up the misinformation surrounding energy drinks and other beverage categories. And speaking of misinformation, sadly we found a number of articles out there this year that needed more information to complete the story – or just didn’t get the facts straight.

We covered counterfeit soft drinks, discriminatory taxes, over-the-top and outrageous studies and the misuse of federal stimulus money that is going to fund smear campaigns aimed at our products as written about by The Heritage Foundation and U.S. Representative Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.).

Fortunately, we share information from an industry that has accomplished plenty of good work and continues to be a leader in developing meaningful solutions.  We are so proud to be working with Knoxville, Tenn., on its “Do Your Part with the Cart” program – an initiative that will provide the option of curbside recycling services to thousands of residents.  We also covered some other unique and thoughtful recycling initiatives.

But, that’s not all we have going on in communities.  Across the country, our industry and its employees are very involved in their local communities.  Here in our backyard of the nation’s capitol, the American Beverage Association and the D.C. Beverage Association announced in September our support for afterschool programs run by DC SCORES.  Check out our blog post on this by clicking here.

And we can’t forget the myriad beverage options available in the marketplace.  Or how proud we are of Susan Neely, president and CEO of the American Beverage Association, who received the Seton Hall University Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations’ Global Citizen of the Year Award just a few weeks ago!

Thanks for checking in with us this year.  We appreciate you keeping up with us, whether it’s Earth Day or Food Day.  Every day we hope to provide you only the best and most interesting information from the non-alcoholic beverage industry.

The no-nonsense editorial discusses the complications and injustices of taxing specific beverages under the guise of improving the health of children. The author states, “One needs to look much deeper than a simple 1-cent-per-ounce tax on soda to solve the problem of childhood obesity.” And he continues, “…this fight is not about a simple tax on soda or even overweight children — it is about the money and the control of our behavior championed by those who think, ‘We know what is best for you.’”

Take a few minutes to check out this common sense op-ed.  And let us know what you think by leaving a comment here, or checking in with us on Facebook and Twitter.

First, suggesting that there is something unique about the calories in soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages is simply false.  Calories are calories, regardless of their source.  If we really want to have an impact in reducing childhood obesity, we need to look at comprehensive approaches – like First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign. Her effort takes diet, exercise and education into consideration – rather than singling out any one food, beverage or ingredient as the scapegoat.  That’s why our industry announced its Clear on Calories initiative in support of the “Let’s Move!” campaign. By voluntarily putting calorie labels on the front of every bottle, can and pack we produce, we’re making it easier for consumers to make informed choices about the beverages that are best for themselves and their families.

Now, why does this group want to remove the sales tax exemption on soda and candy?  It’s simple – to generate revenue.  Why?  Because they think the revenue could be used to help fight childhood obesity or provide funding to local schools.  Our industry fully supports helping to fight childhood obesity (and our actions show our support for the nation’s schoolchildren).  But attempting to single out soda to do it?  We’re not buying it – and others aren’t either.  Just last year, a Rasmussen Report found that 73 percent believe that lawmakers who support taxing soft drinks are more interested in raising additional funds for government than public health.

Let’s not forget one very important thing:  parents can decide what foods and beverages to give for their children without government help.

Today, we continue to paint the bigger picture on taxes by sharing the opinion of the Baltimore Sun editorial board. Baltimore currently has a bottle tax in place, and recently there has been talk about raising that tax in an effort to fund school construction and repairs.   According to the Baltimore Sun, “the council should be in no such rush” to pass legislation without fully considering “whether this plan is the best, most effective way to tackle the capital needs of Baltimore schools.”

You can read the full opinion here. And don’t forget to share your opinion and participate in the poll on the bottle tax increase.

Berr’s article, “Obesity Taxes Won’t Work,” discusses the complications with taxing specific foods and beverages. He also states, “Unfortunately, people get fat and stay overweight for many reasons — psychological, physiological and economic…”

We hope you to take a few minutes to read this op-ed and we also want to remind you about the comprehensive efforts being made by the beverage industry to be a part of the solution to obesity. With our Clear on Calories initiative, we’ve placed new calorie labels on every bottle, can and pack we produce – so you can make the choice that’s right for you and your family. And, through our national School Beverage Guidelines, we’ve removed full-calorie soft drinks from all schools and replaced them with lower-calorie, smaller-portion options.

“While reducing obesity-related health problems is a worthy goal, adding an additional tax burden to particular food and beverage categories is a clumsy and inefficient strategy,” said Tax Foundation analyst Scott Drenkard. “Obesity taxes fall on all consumers, including those who consume candy and soda in moderation and have no weight-related health issues.”

Check out the Tax Foundation website, where you can find the news release and more information about the report.

While we hope you take a few minutes to read the column, we also wanted to remind you about a few things our industry is doing to be part of the solution to childhood obesity.  With our School Beverage Guidelines we’ve removed full-calorie soft drinks from all schools and replaced them with more lower-calorie, smaller-portion beverage options. And in support of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign, we’re placing new calorie labels on every bottle, can and pack we produce – so you can make the choice that’s right for you.