Here at Sip & Savor, we feel that people are best able to make balanced choices if they get accurate information and the education they need to do so. Regulations, such as soda taxes, do not teach people about living a balanced lifestyle.  In fact, research shows that most people do not support the government choosing what they can put in their grocery carts.

Sherzod Abdukadirov, research fellow in the Regulatory Studies Program at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center, says government reflexively turns to taxes and regulations when the run out of ideas for helping people make their own decisions.

“Advocates claim that unhealthy purchases are driven by limited willpower, rather than limited information. Consequently, they recommend policies that would actively manipulate consumers' choices in order to nudge them toward healthier diets,” Sherzod Abdukadirov wrote in The Hill today.

He’s right. The government thinks that imposing regulations is a silver bullet solution that will force people to make the decisions some politicians believe are better and will also help fight obesity. This isn’t what the consumer wants or needs.

While the government continues to spend time trying to regulate what is in our grocery cart, the beverage industry is working towards real solutions.  We know obesity is a complex issue. That is why America’s leading beverage companies have set a goal to reduce calories consumed from beverages per person by 20 percent by 2025. We will do this through providing people more options, such as low- and no-calorie beverages and smaller portion sizes, while also teaching them the importance of balancing what they eat and drink with physical activity.

To learn more about the real and lasting solutions our industry has embarked upon to help consumers, visit DeliveringChoices.org. And check out YourCartYourChoice.com to read more about why the government should stay out of our grocery carts.