News
Sweetener tax in DC budget
The Washington DC council has voted to include a six-percent sales tax on artificially and sugar-sweetened drinks in their 2011 budget. The tax would apply to soft drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks, but not drinks containing milk, juice, coffee or tea.
It is expected to raise about $7.92 million a year. The final vote on the 2011 budget is scheduled for June; if it passes it then goes to the mayor for his signature and must be approved by Congress.
Other municipalities have attempted sweetener taxes in what some claim is an effort to reduce childhood obesity but also a way to help generate income for financially-strapped governments. Such taxes have met with staunch opposition from the sweetener and beverage industries.
Tags: Consumer Issues, Corn
I drink Frappacino.. caffeine.. yes.. milk.. yes.. sugar.. yes.. taxed??? what about Snapple.. ?? this is stupid beyond belief.. just another way to squeeze the consumer.. By the way.. how about those ‘juice boxes”?/ juice.. yup.. sugar?? oh my yes .. lots of it..
DC needs to clean up it political act.. and get a grip on crime.. and maybe then they can worry about ‘childhood obesity”.. right after murder, drugs, burglary, assault and a million other more important things.