The sugar used in drinks - especially in the US - is far from natural. There's no HFCS in nature.

HFCS is chemically identical to naturally occurring fructose and glucose (high concentration of simple sugars). Not advocating to consume it, but the possible harms of consumption have to do with simple sugar metabolism, and its consequences, and not the origins of the substance.

Yep. I would prefer if they went with just regular cane sugar instead but I know some drinks do have a version with that now.

Australia overwhelmingly uses cane sugar, but we still have plenty of obesity.

I think its less to do with the type of sugar consumed... and more about how much we consume.

Soft drinks are very refined sugar. Quite different from natural.

Also implying natural is better.

'natural' usually comes with fiber, which makes it's digestion completely different.

Refined sugar (either HFCS or crystallized cane) doesn't come with fiber.