The fact that soda has a lot of calories isn’t really news to anyone, but the fact that the companies making those sodas are doing something about it is. In a recent announcement, three of the largest soda companies in the United States have proclaimed their intentions to reduce the calorie content of their drinks.

In a announcement at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, soda companies Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Dr. Pepper-Snapple have stated their commitment to reduce the amount of calories Americans consume in drinks contain by 20% by 2025. In doing so they acknowledge the role their drinks place in the obesity epidemic in America.

The reasoning for this is the financial impact. As health and physical education teacher Ellie Berg says, “When sales go down, they [the companies] feel the need to respond.”

Soda is well known for its large amounts of calories it possesses and it plays a big part in an average American’s caloric uptake, particularly for children. Soft drinks can contain a very wide range of calories, ranging from 0 calories in some diets sodas up to around 200 in others. The regular varieties of Coca-Cola’s, Pepsi’s and Dr. Pepper’s signature drinks each contain around 100 calories. While everyone needs calories, soft drinks can contain an undue amount and can play a very detrimental role in one’s health and the calories in soda serve no other role than adding pounds.

“Reducing calories for someone who is taking in too much is always a good thing,” said Berg.

The reduction of calories in their drinks is only part of their plan. The soda makers are also reducing calories by promoting smaller portions and alternative drink options such as milk, bottled water, and other lower-calorie drinks. This commitment from the soda companies reflects the recent trend in America towards obesity awareness and healthier foods. The move also reflects movements like Michelle Obama’s push for healthier meal choices for children, proposed legislation taxing or restricting soda sales or the fact that soda sales among these large companies have been falling in recent years.

“Soda has a lot of sugar which are empty calories, which can lead to weight gain if too much is consumed and not burned off,” said PE and health teacher Ryan Bartosiewski.

Lower calories in drinks must be taken with a grain of salt however, literally. Diet soda often contains more sodium than regular soda and the natural sugar found in regular soda is substituted with artificial sweeteners, causing many to debate whether the lack of calories in diet soda is really worth the chemicals.

“It doesn’t really matter to me besides taste,” said junior Theresa Landgreen, referring to whether she would choose regular or diet soda.

Landergreen’s opinions are reflective of the public’s opinion as a whole. Despite these recent developments, soda is far from being killed. Soft drinks were the most popular drink in the U.S until 2013, when it was bumped to the #2 spot by water. Both regular and diet varieties of soda are still being consumer by millions of Americans and while unhealthy, many still chose it out of preference. Soft drinks are and likely will be consumed in the future so long as the soda companies continue to make changes to make their drinks healthier.

But as Ellie Berg says, quoting the Mayo Clinic, “a reasonable amount of diet soda isn’t likely to kill you.”

Soda is a popular drink, and because of that the public needs to be mindful of what they’re consuming. It certainly doesn’t hurt however, to have the soda companies trying to do some good and cutting calories. It is at least a symbolic step in the right direction.