Not so sweet in the city: Taxes take aim at sugary beverages
Soft drinks are going to cost more in certain cities due to voters approving taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages. Soft drink makers may be interested in the situations in these cities:
Albany, Calif.
– Voters last November approved a tax of 1c per oz on the distribution of sugar-sweetened beverages and the added-calorie sweeteners used to make them. The tax on added-calorie sweeteners will be calculated based on the number of ounces of sweetened beverage that typically would be produced using that sweetener.
Berkeley, Calif.– A University of California-Berkeley study released last year showed a 21% drop in the consumption of soft drinks and other sugary beverages in Berkeley’s low-income neighborhoods after the city levied a tax of 1c per oz on sugar-sweetened beverages. The tax went into effect in March 2015.
Boulder, Colo. – Voters last November approved a tax of 2c per oz on distributors of soft drinks with at least 5 grams of added sugar per 12 oz. A sugar-sweetened beverage product means a bottled sugar-sweetened beverage or a sugar-sweetened beverage made from the dilution of syrup or powder, according to the tax, which is scheduled to go into effect July 1.
Oakland, Calif.– Voters last November approved a tax of 1c per oz on the distribution of sugar-sweetened beverages, including products such as soft drinks, sports drinks, sweetened teas and energy drinks. The tax is scheduled to take effect July 1.
Philadelphia– A tax of 1.5c per oz of sweetened beverages was imposed at the beginning of this year upon the distribution of sweetened beverages to dealers who intend to sell the product at retail in Philadelphia.
San Francisco– Voters last November approved a tax of 1c per oz on the distribution of sugar-sweetened beverages, which the tax defines as a beverage that contains added sugars and 25 or more calories per 12 oz. The drinks may include some soft drinks, sports drinks, iced tea, juice drinks and energy drinks. The tax also will apply to syrups and powders that can be made into sugarsweetened beverages.
