D.C. City Council Should End Attempt to Enact Soda Tax
Published in Inside Source, November 18th
he D.C. City Council is considering implementing taxes on sweetened beverages, despite evidence the tactic to fight obesity and diabetes hasn’t worked in other cities that have passed these taxes.
Council members are considering implementing a 1.5-cent-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks, which would increase the cost of a two-liter bottle of soda by a buck. The Washington Post points out this would be one of the highest such taxes in the country.
“On average, children consume 30 gallons of sugary drinks a year. That’s a bathtub full. It’s a huge health risk,” said the bill’s author, council member Brianne K. Nadeau.
Any drink with added sugar would be included in the tax, including orange juice and sweetened iced coffee.
