Sodium benzoate is banned in the European union but is in all American sold sodas that aren't labeled organic.
Stevia, ethyrtol, and essential oils should be the only ingredients allowed in soda. I have at most two mineral waters a week flavored in that manner.
Sugar which isn't bound to pectin and fiber is a poison and has no nutritional value.
A small amount of sugar in a healthy diet isn't going to harm anybody. Stevia "tastes sweet" but consistently loses to sugar in blind taste tests.
For the rare moments when I use a sweetener, it's honey or sugar. But not often.
I don't know where you live but in the Willamette Valley, we have a terrible infestation of invasive non-native blackberries. 11 months of the year they are a truly obnoxious invasive thorny tough weed. But for four weeks in summer, we have gobs of blackberries free for the picking. I juice the berries and make a wonderful blackberry soda using 1/2 cup of juice, 2 tablespoons of simple syrup (made with 50% sugar and 50% water by volume, about 50 calories) and unflavored carbonated water. A cold glass of that on a hot day is glorious. The sugar gives not only a smooth sweet taste, enhances the berry-flavor, gives a good mouthfeel but also provides a kick of dopamine to enhance the moment. Some things in life shouldn't be tinkered with.
The US has increased already high rate of sugar and high fructose corn syrup consumption by 30% over the past 30 years, mostly through consumption commercial soda. That stuff is toxic. On that I agree.
Referring to the OP, let Californians decide what they want to do about the health crisis caused by artificial sodas.