Berkeley defeats Big Soda, imposes first soda tax in U.S.

Voters at Berkeley, California chose to pass a bill that will impose tax on sodas and other sweetened beverages. The decision is being heralded as groundbreaking for some and hopes that it will spark a movement that will introduce the tax on the high sugar and high calorie drinks in other states as well.

Similar tax bills on beverages were attempted in other U.S. cities and states but only Berkeley has been successful in passing it so far.

The bill, called Measure D, levies tax on the distributor level was designed to combat the rising cases of diabetes, obesity and other diseases that come from an unhealthy diet.