new york americans vote new president tuesday hundreds thousands voters california bay area boulder colorado also decide whether want levy sugary drink another step toward make soda tax norm three cities california san francisco berkeley albany boulder colorado become late battleground so-called war sugar center sweeten drink 800,000 voters decide ballot measure introduce tax cents per ounce soft drink nov. weeks world health organization advocate governments impose type levy push tax sugar sodas gather momentum year officials health advocate seek ways stem health epidemics diabetes obesity ballot tax would apply diet sodas affect juices sport drink beverages add sugar reduce consumption sugary drink see relatively easy way people cut add sugar recommend group include u.s. food drug administration fda american heart association trend prompt worry millions dollars advertise lobby campaign beverage industry giants like pepsico inc coca-cola co face decline sales flagship products market include unite state far year britain philadelphia decide introduce levy soft drink countries include south africa propose similar measure follow decision mexico introduce tax 2014. broaden efforts raise prospect establish norm numerous previous attempt fail advocate say tax pass consider jurisdictions say jim hara health promotion policy director center science public interest washington pepsi coke increase options less sugary drink respond change consumer taste consumption carbonate soft drink hit 30-year low unite state last year water sales continue climb accord beverage digest majority california voters support government measure reduce consumption sugary beverages accord field poll release february san francisco 2014 bid similar tax fail pass two-thirds vote expect many succeed time around simple majority require vote cities expect advocate opponents alike tight fight survival big soda outspending advocate measure much industry spend oppose tax year bay area alone swell around 27 million 28 million versus around 19 million advocate accord estimate side billionaires include michael bloomberg join fray contribute 15 million pro-tax campaign bay area former mayor new york wag unsuccessful campaign city cut soda size 2014. opponents say tax would levy distributors unfairly target drink makers could raise food cost beyond soda effect grocery tax could spread many items distributors say joe arellano spokesman grocery tax campaign california bay area california cities measure would introduce penny-per-ounce tax boulder would cents tax support change behavior consumers think work say susan neely head american beverage association cite efforts soda company like reduce portion size group sue block philadelphia tax say unclear yet group would challenge potential levy california colorado unclear long-lasting impact tax place like mexico berkeley early research suggest partial pass-through tax businesses customers impact per capita consumption soda tax may spread voters check ballot california colorado