Soda Taxes Approved in Four Cities
Chicago’s Cook County is expected to vote on another tax Thursday
Voters in three California cities—San Francisco, Oakland and Albany—have approved a penny-per-ounce tax on nonalcoholic drinks with caloric sweeteners. This includes soda, sports drinks, ice tea and energy drinks.
Voters in Boulder, Colorado have approved a two-cents-per-ounce tax as well. On Thursday, Cook County’s board of commissioners will vote on a penny-per-ounce tax that also includes zero-calorie sweeteners, found in diet soda.
Philadelphia because the first large U.S. city to pass a similar tax in June, when they approved a 1.5 cents per ounce tax on nonalcoholic beverages with added sweeteners. The beverage industry has sued to try and stop the tax before it goes into effect in January.
According to Beverage Digest, the U.S. volumes of soft drinks declined 1.2% in 2015, marking the 11th straight yearly decline.