A proposed bill in the Illinois statehouse would impose a penny-per-ounce tax on concealed sugar sweetened drinks.
Backers believe it could help fight obesity in the state.
Hutsonville foods owner Mike Kraemer doesn't agree.
"I personally believe that you can't legislate personal responsibility. That's a personal decision of yours and of mine," says Kraemer.
This tax could directly affect store owners along the Wabash River.
On one side, Mike Kraemer may see customers drive past his store into Indiana just to purchase pop.
"I'm right on the border. So if you realize that the taxes here are already on cigarettes at a dollar a pack and now on soda, a penny-per-ounce. That's going to make people say, 'well I'm going to stop at the next station down the road in the next state because it's cheaper.'
Across the border in Sullivan County, Fast Jack's Marathon store owner Peter Bajaj already sees heavy traffic from Illinois residents coming to get gas and cigarettes.
Bajaj says over forty five to fifty percent business of his business is from Illinois.
Store owners wouldn't mind if the Illinois tax goes through because they would benefit from the added sales.
"Hopefully. It's going to affect me. People are going to come over," Bajaj feels.
Illinois residents we talked to feel that some will drive the extra miles to satisfy their pop craving.
Robinson, IL resident Rob Stone, "a lot of the young people will go out of their way to find the cheapest Coke or Pepsi."
No matter what side of the river you're on, most believe the proposed tax won't help fight obesity.
"People that enjoy their soft drinks, they're going to keep drinking them. The sugar sometimes is the added bonus," says Stone.
Bajaj explains, "there are more products, more junk foods. It's not only pop that is the cause of obesity."
