DC should reverse course on soda tax
Published in The Hill, December 7th
The D.C. Council, which implemented a 2 percent tax on sodas and other sugary drinks in October and is now considering an even higher rate of 1.5 cents-per-ounce, seems determined to make the nation’s capital — already one of the most expensive cities in the country — even less affordable for its residents and more hostile to job creators.
The proposed excise tax would raise the price of a two-liter soda or a 6-pack of energy drinks by more than $1 — more than a 50 percent price hike, in some cases. The average consumer could expect to pay $75 in additional taxes every year, totaling $300 for a family of four. That might be a mild expense for members of the D.C. Council, but it’s a significant burden for the more than 182,000 low-income D.C. residents struggling to pay their bills. Make no mistake: Poor people are punished by these taxes.
