Studies show that children can consume a bathtub’s worth of sugary drinks every year.

Advocates in support of a bill that would tax sugary drinks in Maryland brought the visual representation of a bathtub full of sugar right to Lawyers Mall in Annapolis.

The “For Our Kids Act” would impose a 0.2 cent per ounce tax on sugary drinks. The only exception is drinks that are 100% juice. Laura Hale, with the American Heart Association, said this law is about making families healthier.

“These are empty calories. It’s a lot different when you eat something versus when you are drinking something that really has no nutritional value at the end of the day,” Hale said.

If passed, the revenue from the tax would fund the “Healthy School Meals for All Fund” and a child care scholarship program.