Cutting calories in schools reinforces skills for a lifetime; discriminatory taxes just raise revenue WASHINGTON, May 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Childhood obesity is a serious issue that requires comprehensive and thoughtful solutions, but discriminatory taxes on soft drinks and other beverages are the wrong public policy for such a complex problem, said Susan Neely, president and CEO of the American Beverage Association. As Washington leaders begin discussing ways to improve health care in America, the beverage industry believes they need to focus on solutions that work when it comes to reducing childhood obesity.