Is sugar addictive? Since it was cultivated in the Americas a couple of centuries ago, it has become a staple throughout the world. People love it. While sugar effects are so benign and the craving is so universal, it has not been determined to be addictive or not. (See, the wonderful book, 1493 , by Charles C. Mann.) A good case can be made for addiction, but the chemistry is subtle. Well, sugar does add calories, and our wonderful legislatures wish to do something about apparent consequent obesity. For most legislatures, doing something must involve money in some way, giving it out or taking it in. The latter is preferred. The solution this new year in Philadelphia is a sugar tax on sugary soft drinks at the rate of 1.5 cents per ounce**. For example, the tax on a 42-ounce big gulp will be 63 cents, and for a gallon of sweetened tea, it will be $1.92. Alcohol is excluded, as are orange, tomato and apple juices – the healthy stuff I guess. Fans of energy dr
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