Never heard of the sugar water thing either.
However, I soak my snakes, and lizards for that matter, if they are having a tough shed. The tanks I have are so good with humidity, it's not really an issue often, but it works when it does.
I just put them in a container that fits them, fill halfway up their body with luke warm water (80F or so), cover the lid to keep the humidity in (there are air holes for them of course), and let them chill for a bit.
I talked to a vet I trust implicitly that says she soaks all her reptiles periodically. Even desert animals (but with less water and for shorter periods than say, a BP or boa).
It cannot hurt a high humidity species, but I am careful with the lower humidity animals, like Frank the BTS, and the leopard geckos. I only soak them occasionally, and not for long.
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