The Boston City Council is proposing a tax on sugary drinks, saying the money on unhealthy beverages can be put to good use.

A tax on sugary drinks could fund important programs and improve public health, Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan is arguing.

Boston city councilors plan to hold a hearing on the issue. A new city tax on sugary drinks would require approval from state lawmakers, in addition to city leaders.

Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan proposed the idea as a way to promote healthier habits among residents and also raise additional revenue for the city.

A tax of 2 cents per ounce of sugar drinks could raise $20-30 million annually for the city while dissuading people from buying unhealthy beverages, one city councilor argues.

Boston City Council voted Wednesday to kill a measure that would have created an ethics committee made up of council members.

The Boston City Council plans to discuss the possibility of imposing a new local tax on sodas and other sugary drinks. Councilor Sharon Durkan introduced a measure Wednesday that seeks to explore the new tax as a means of generating revenue for the city to spend on public health initiatives and discouraging the consumption of sugar-laden drinks that she says have been shown to increase the

Boston city councilors on Wednesday introduced a tax on sweetened beverages to fund public health initiatives.