The Israeli parliament's Finance Committee approved the tax on Tuesday that will apply to nearly all drinks — sugared drinks, diet drinks, and natural juices — with the goal to reduce Israelis' heavy consumption of sweetened drinks.

Such a move is an effort to combat maladies such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, artery disease, and cavities, urging people to switch to water.

The declared goal is to reduce Israelis’ heavy consumption of sweetened drinks, which contribute to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, artery disease and cavities, and urge them to switch to water. Drinks account for more than 60 percent of Israelis’ excess sugar consumption.