Freshman Gabrielle Friedman, a Hatchet columnist, criticizes the proposed D.C. soda tax by claiming that taxes aren’t the way to force people into healthier habits.

The District of Columbia is synonomous with power, politics and, most recently, taxes. On the heels of the 5-cent bag tax, which goes toward cleaning up the Anacostia River, D.C. councilmember Mary M. Cheh proposed a new tax on soda products the last week of April. The tax of 1-cent-per-ounce on soda is aimed at funding the recently passed Healthy Schools Act, legislation that seeks to remove sugary beverages, including soda, some juices and other insalubrious foods from school cafeterias all over the District. I am a non-soda drinker and a huge proponent of the movement for healthier drinking options in schools. However, the use of this tax to promote a healthy lifestyle for consumers is flawed.