The group, which is lobbying for such taxes and has suggested a national excise tax on sugared drinks, said raising the price of the beverages would reduce consumption. It believes that would lower the incidence of obesity, diabetes and other costly chronic diseases.

But others see such taxes as government intrusion on personal choice.

“The tax code should not be used as a tool for social engineering. Nor should it be an instrument for penalizing individuals’ personal food choices — choices that some government officials find distasteful,” said J. Justin Wilson, senior research analyst at the Center for Consumer Freedom.