The reason the beverage industry is so worried is because these initiatives have been popping up around the nation in the past few years. And the fact that this Berkeley initiative succeeded indicates there could be a domino effect.
Starting over ten years ago, I was calling for making it revenue neutral. In other words, put a tax on sugary beverages while removing the tax on some necessity like bathroom paper. (Don't tell me it's a $hitty idea.
) If communities around the country would do that, that initiative would pass easily.