U. S. health experts have said that sweetened drinks should be taxed and the amount used to fight obesity and fund public health sectors.

New York City health commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley, nutritionist Dr. Walter Willett of the Harvard School of Public Health, Kelly Brownell, an obesity expert at Yale University in Connecticut and others said the present taxes are not enough to fund a health program to fight obesity.

"A tax of one cent per ounce of beverage would increase the cost of a 20-ounce soft drink by 15 to 20 percent." They estimate that would lead to a 10 percent drop in consumption, or enough to affect weight.

An estimated $50 billion over 10 years could be raised by taxing the soft drink companies at 3 cents on every 12-ounce can of soda. This is a huge amount to reduce consumption and raise revenues for health programs.

The American Heart Association had suggested cutting down dramatically on the intake of sugar and pinpointed soft drinks as the main source of discretionary sugar calories.

Researchers say that tobacco taxes have become routine in both state and federal systems because they generate revenue and confer a public health benefit with respect to smoking rates. They said that taxes on sweetened drinks will become routine too in fact they should become routine.

The beverage industry has expressed their objection on the levying of taxes because it cant see how the extra taxes teach children to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Researchers were prepared to face opposition from the manufacturers and said that tobacco taxation and seat belt legislation also does not eradicate the accidents and heart disease but are still sound policies.