Philly passes a soda tax. A good thing?

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/philadelphia-soda-tax-outrage-sugary-drinks-law-201553836.html

Excerpt from the Article

Here’s why Philadelphia residents are outraged about the new soda tax


With a 13-4 City Council vote, last week Philadelphia became the first major city to pass a 1.5 cent per ounce tax on sugary drinks. While it’s a win for Mayor James Kenney, some city residents and business owners are outraged.

“I really don’t like it. I’m disappointed in it,” one Philadelphia resident told Yahoo Finance’s Seana Smith in the video above. “I think it's incredibly regressive, and I think the population it's purported to aid and help is exactly the population it's going to negatively affect.”

The tax is expected to generate $91 million in the first year and up to $386 million over five years. Some of the money will be earmarked for improving early education and fixing neglected infrastructure such as parks and recreation facilities in the inner city.

But here’s what Yahoo Finance found out when talking to Philadelphia residents: They’re upset that all of the money is not being allocated to pre-K and parks and recreation facilities. During final negotiations with council members, it was determined that some of the money generated from the tax will go to the city's general fund and other expenditures including retrials for juveniles.

A Philadelphia resident told Yahoo Finance that he doesn’t agree with how the tax will be spent, calling City Council's decision a "disgrace." Another critic of the tax said it will have a negative impact on the restaurant industry and cause sales to slow.

Here’s why: People who buy sugary drinks in the city of Brotherly Love will have to pay an additional 18 cents in tax for each 12-ounce can of soda and $2.16 in tax for each 12-pack purchased.

The new tax will affect thousands of beverages—essentially anything that contains either artificial sweetener or sugar. Drinks that will not be taxed are those that are more than 50% juice or milk.

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Good intents the golden road to hell?

 

People need to get a grip.

Local governments nationwide are always looking for creative ways to generate revenue without raising people's income tax.

A less than 2 cent tax on sugar drinks won't hurt anyone or affect overall sales.

We all hate paying for something, but jeez man.
At some level we all have to pay into the system.

 

If they would force the stores to sell fruit juice and none of this 2 to 10% fruit jucie but 100% fruit juice to be tied to the tax then I would be for it.

 

The way I see it...all across America people suck down sugary sodas in excess. Yes, it's their own business, BUTTTT!!!...when they go rolling into a hospital with disease related to the sugar abuse and don't have any insurance - It's becomes a tax payer issue.

So, basically, I think PA taxes the hell out of everything (especially Philadelphia), but if that tax money is funneled to "a cause" (like paying for meds, diabetes or the amputations due to over dosing your body on sugar) other than creating a huge salaries for some 5 or 10 idiots on the soda tax board...I'm ok with it.

I probably drink less than a case of soda/juice (combined) a year, but that's just me.

 

Of course not all the money will be directed towards the cause.

 

Of course not. That's the American way.

 

While that would be marginally better.... generally speaking, even most 100% fruit juices sold in the stores are not a good choice.

 

This will actually double the price of a large bottle of Coke and also includes any drink that contain sugar such as sports drinks and tea. This tax will not go all, to education as originally stated. Its a big bait and switch

What will happen is that a lot of purchases will be done a short trip away, outside Philly, where taxes are much lower, risking a lot of revenue, both to momnpop stores and revenue to Philly. I think this idea needs to be reworked. For families that cant afford the doubling in price of all drinks containing sugar will simply not buy them

 

Good!!!

The people of Philadelphia, well mainly those in the hood are grossly out of shape.

 

Yup!

 

You missed my point though

 

I got your point but that's what I chose to focus on. Also the people who will go out of they're way to pay the soda tax will be small at best.

 

Its cheaper to drink water...unfortunately it may not be safe

 

My point was that its a bait and switch tax as ithe money will not be used as it was originally proposed and it has a real risk of affecting small mom and pop stores. That risk is real and of great discussion locally

 

I don't think it will really reduce the number of those buying the stuff. People will continue to buy (eat and drink) what they want. It reminds me of the cig taxes. It doesn't matter how ridiculously high some of the prices get for stuff, if people want it they are going to buy it. They figure out a way.

 

Explain how a 2 cent sales tax will double the price of a $1.50 two liter bottle of coke??:smt017

Your math doesn't add up.

 

the tax is per ounce; "pass a 1.5 cent per ounce tax on sugary drinks. "

 

Great point.
The price of a box of cigs has more than doubled since the early 1990s.
Hasn't affected people's smoking habits at all.

 

This is true. At least they aren't going to raise taxes on the bottled water though.

 

Seriously???

That is kinda crappy then. I had no idea.

After what amount does that 2 cent tax kick in?? Or is a tax on every ounce in a sugar soda???