Proposed DC tax on sugary drinks stirs up support and skepticism
Published in WTOP, October 8th
Soda aficionados, beware: If a new bill passes, D.C.’s sugary drinks would become some of the most expensive in the country.
The proposal seeks to improve health in the District’s lower income neighborhoods by making the price of a bottle of soda less palatable with a $.015 cent-per-ounce excise tax — meaning the price of a two-liter-bottle of soda will likely go up by a dollar.
The bill will go before the D.C. City Council on Tuesday, where it has majority support, The Washington Post reported.
Supporters of the bill say the goal is to encourage healthier choices in low-income neighborhoods in Northeast and Southeast D.C., where obesity and diabetes are diagnosed at high rates. The tax would also fund programs geared toward fresh produce and early childhood education.
