Obesity is a serious and complex problem and not the result of consuming any one food or beverage.
Also, it is difficult to draw a conclusion about the Canadian market based on U.S. data when the consumption of soft drinks in Canada is only around half that of the average U.S. consumption (93 litres per capita in 2008 in Canada, versus 180 litres per capita in the U.S.).
Soft drinks contribute less than 2.5 per cent of a Canadian's average daily calorie consumption. The volume of regular (i.e. caloric) soft drinks sold in Canada has dropped more than 21 per cent from 1999 to 2008, with annual per capita consumption down from 90 litres in 1999 to 66 litres in 2008.
Education focused on encouraging moderation and a healthy, active lifestyle, not taxation, is the key to improving public health and to addressing issues like obesity.
president, Refreshments Canada