New Yorkers have reason to pause before they guzzle their next can of soft drink. Their choice of beverage may cost them a little extra. David Paterson, the New York state governor, is introducing an “obesity tax” on high-calorie soft drinks. Milk, fruit juices and bottled water will be exempt from the new 15 per cent tax, as well as “diet” versions of drinks such as Diet Coke. But regular Coke and Pepsi will get slugged.

The move represents the latest attempt by the US authorities to buck an alarming trend of increasing obesity. Estimates place two-thirds of American adults as overweight, with a third clinically obese. An obesity crisis is looming, well, large. Supersized Americans are suffering from heart disease, diabetes and chronic disease at levels previously unseen, with the situation getting worse.