Recently, four Hawaii senators proposed a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks arguing that sugary drinks lead to obesity.

The proposed tax would charge 1 cent per teaspoon of sugar in every drink, equating to about 10 cents per 13-ounce soda. The senators hope to use the money generated by the tax to build health centers in communities and provide help for trauma victims.

Nationwide, sugary drinks account for almost half of all added sugars that Americans consume. Sugary drinks have been said to lead to obesity, diabetes and hypertension, and other health problems. Thirty-eight percent of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander youth consume at least one sugary drink daily, according to kingcounty.gov.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 56 percent of adults in Hawaii are overweight, and 23 percent of these adults are obese. Thirteen percent of Hawaii’s children are overweight, with nine percent being obese.

Scott Saiki, state House Majority Leader, is not sure that the bill will be supported in the state House of Representatives.

“While sugary drinks carry health risks, the House will be cautious about enacting broad-based taxes this session,” Saiki said.

Some believe that sugary drinks should not be taxed.

“It’s difficult to define what a sugary drink is,” senior Alexis Fraga said. “It would not be an effective tax for consumers.”

“I am against the tax,” senior Moani Kekahuna said. “Consumers would still buy the drinks even with the added 10 cents tax.”

While a majority believes that the tax would not be effective, some believe that the tax has some merit.

“I support the tax if it encourages citizens to buy drinks such as water or milk,” junior Dominique Dold said.