one will kill you and "everyone" knows it, the other one will kill you and no one knows it. is that the big difference?
and i'll disagree that the common uneducated public has a full understanding of the consequences of drinking soda, ever been to a walmart? pretty sure almost everyone there thinks soda is not that bad and a just a little treat, as long as you buy the low fat ice cream.
that people will get up in arms like they did in NY because their fatass didn't wanna get up to buy another soda, then something like the NSA thing happens and there's not one NY-er going to the white house to bitch is, to me, a demonstration of how it is not about what they think is good for society, but just how anything affects their fat ass.
now, im not gonna take a big ban-soda stance and i can't say i necessarily agree with a complete ban, but if i'd have my way, they tax the shit out of soda and alcohol, much like it is done to tobacco and have the proceeds go to incentives to small farmers who don't grow corn