Sugar Tax. 5 Key Points.

Texas Public Radio looks at Philadelphia’s proposed Sugar Tax. 5 Questions Answered:

• What’s included in the proposed new tax?
  • ​1.5 cents-per-ounce on sugar and artifically sweetened soda
  • revnue dedicated to education
• Why is this a big deal?
  • ​precedent setting, other cities have failed to pass a soda tax, only Berkeley has an enacted soda tax
• What’s the evidence that taxing sugary drinks would lead people to drink less of them?
  • ​“its intuitive” says one economist
  • In 2014 immediately after a soda tax in Mexico, sales declined (sales have since rebounded)
• Who supports the proposed tax?
  • ​Philadelphia Mayor says its about an industry that makes a lot of money on the backs of poor people
  • religious leaders &  faith organizations
  • teachers
  • business owners
  • public health advocates
• Who opposes the proposed tax?
  • ​a coalition called  No Philly Grocery Tax
  • teamsters