San Francisco jumping into soda regulation debate

San Francisco is getting into the debate over regulating sugary drinks.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that a city supervisor is set to introduce a ballot measure that would levy a 2-cent-per-ounce tax on all sugar-sweetened beverages sold in the city. A can of soda, for example, would cost 24 cents more.

The money would be used to fund health and nutrition programs for city youth.

Similar soda tax measures have failed in the neighboring city of Richmond and the Los Angeles County city of El Monte.

But San Francisco Supervisor Scott Weiner says research shows voters are willing to support the tax if the money is used to keep kids healthy.

He plans to introduce the measure this week. It would require approval from a majority of supervisors to get on the November 2014 ballot.