To be honest, it doesn't matter too much to me if they actually care about the health of people (which I think they do, at least to some degree), as long as what they are doing could potentially improve health. If the reduced consumption means they don't get enough revenue from that tax to meet its goals, which in turn leads to worse public services, then that is a problem, but that doesn't mean that the soda tax itself is a problem. If they removed it, they would get no additional revenue. It also has the potential beneficial side effect of better health, which is good for both the people and the economy.

Now, as I've said in this thread before, it would have a much bigger effect if it was a statewide (or even nationwide) tax, but baby steps... Slowly, more and more places are imposing a sugary soft beverage tax.

First off your critical thinking and reading skills seem to be lacking. If your going to read what I post and turn it into your own skewed view then don't bother responding. If you want to have an educational debate then I'm all for that.

btw me stating "water should be free for all" is an opinion and I believe should be a basic human right. Just cause I'm arguing on one subject about taxes and maybe bottle water should be taxed, should not be seen as related directly to my free water statement. The world is not black and white, most things fall somewhere in the middle. And just because taxes don't work on a universal bases (they actually do somewhat in a lot of cases), doesn't mean that they shouldn't. I don't have all the answers but only through debate can things be worked out, on the other hand you don't have the right answers  either.

*edit* sorry if my original response came of rather harsh. I will not delete or edit the original text as I still think the point stands. Also I'm a person of my word and will not hide behind what I said by editing it out.

I can see the arguement on both side but I would have to agree with the side of sales tax. It is one thing to be taxed for sugar, it is another to "suffer".

God, it must be awesome to not be awake to the corruption of government and just take whatever tax or poor reason for that tax up the ass, pretending that is all for the common good. And someone said the politicians don't see a significant amount of taxpayer money? Bwahahahaha!! Maybe not directly, but guess who does. Their buddies and/or companies that bribe politicians to rule on things that benefit those people. How the Hell do you think politicians go in making 10s, or maybe 100s, of thousands of dollars, but come out mulit-millionaires? It also helps that politicians have made themselves immune to insider trading.

https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/257552283850653696?lang=en

Should be nationwide to really work and let people not just get it from the next town. People would be healthier on average and way more productive because of it. That average dude who drinks a gallon soda per day and who has diabetes does surely not help the society much and rather destroy it financially.

The guy who buys a soda once a week won't really suffer much from 30 cent or whatever more for a can per week.

Maybe they would at least stop to give their kids some litres of coke per day and fuck them up for the rest of their life with that because we all know that those who were already fat as kids will mostly never get slim again.

Let people feel bad financially when they buy too much per week with a lot of sugar or fat and the society will be in a much better condition overall over some years or decades.

I see this tax is quite heavy, more than the name 'penny-per-ounce' suggests.
As one example, a 2-liter bottle, which usually costs about $1, will incur a 67-cent soda tax.

Bigger news is that Illinois may be insolvent soon, so expect more tax raises.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/could-illinois-be-the-first-state-to-file-for-bankruptcy/

Not really surprising, most thin people look out for their body and don't drink everything else just because it has no sugar in it.

Besides that, some sugar alternatives make you hungy so that you eat more when you drink that stuff. 

What if you're a diabetic who needs sugar at times, this fucking tax really makes life hell for people like myself, they halved the amount of sugar which is lucozade means that I now have to use other methods of getting sugar back up when I'm in need including now bringing around 2 bottles instead of one because idiots don't understand that taking sugar away from drinks isn't going to stop people making bad choices and drinking more if you want it.

Yep, more government intrusion on personal freedom. I'm glad they can look out for us on such important measures. Just give up the things you love because the government is overreaching. Yep just stop drinking soda and keep giving more control over one little sliver at a time. That's really a poor argument.