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Soda Tax
SuzySunshine99
Posts: 2,983 Member
in Debate Club
My county just implemented a tax on all "sweetened beverages", including those with artificial sweeteners. They say it is to combat obesity and encourage people to select "healthier" beverages. They said that there are "conflicting reports" on the health effects of artificial sweeteners. Whatever...obviously, the real reason is to increase revenue for the county. That is not up for debate. But, do you think a tax like this, despite the real reason behind it, really could have an effect of people's health? Will they really select a bottle of water instead of a Coke to avoid the tax? I'm thinking no.
Here's the details of the tax...it is one penny per ounce and applies to:
-Regular and diet sodas, sweetened teas, bottled sweetened coffee, sports drinks, energy drinks, any sweetened dairy beverage that is less than 50% milk, and juice products that are not 100% juice.
-This applies to all retailers, restaurants, bars, and vending machines, including fountain drinks in those establishments.
It does NOT apply to:
-100% fruit/vegetable juice
-Weight reduction/meal replacement beverages
-Made to order coffee drinks (Starbucks)
-Sparkling water
-Milk substitutes (almond, soy, etc.)
A penny per ounce can add up...I usually buy the 35 can case of Coke Zero at Costco. The tax will add $4.20 to the price (35 x 12oz). This is IN ADDITION to our regular 10% sales tax. I will be visiting a Costco in the next county over for my Coke Zero.
Would this tax discourage you from buying these beverages?
Here's the details of the tax...it is one penny per ounce and applies to:
-Regular and diet sodas, sweetened teas, bottled sweetened coffee, sports drinks, energy drinks, any sweetened dairy beverage that is less than 50% milk, and juice products that are not 100% juice.
-This applies to all retailers, restaurants, bars, and vending machines, including fountain drinks in those establishments.
It does NOT apply to:
-100% fruit/vegetable juice
-Weight reduction/meal replacement beverages
-Made to order coffee drinks (Starbucks)
-Sparkling water
-Milk substitutes (almond, soy, etc.)
A penny per ounce can add up...I usually buy the 35 can case of Coke Zero at Costco. The tax will add $4.20 to the price (35 x 12oz). This is IN ADDITION to our regular 10% sales tax. I will be visiting a Costco in the next county over for my Coke Zero.
Would this tax discourage you from buying these beverages?
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Replies
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No,but I find it interesting that a diet soda (0 calories) is taxed and a Starbucks drink (easily 500 calories) is not.38
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My guess, and it's just a guess, is that there will be some effect, probably minimal. I'd think the price for sweetened beverages is not very elastic, because there are multiple alternatives. People will buy marginally less.3
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I find it hard for myself to think negatively of these types of campaigns. I mainly drink water and unsweetened tea though, and make my daily coffee at home. I've also always been at a healthy weight, so I guess I do see this as a positive thing since what they are trying to accomplish (more people buying unsweetened drinks over sweetened drinks on a daily basis) resembles my own "healthy" habits. It does always make me curious to see how it all pans out in the long run.7
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Cigarette taxes have reduced teen smoking. That's a fact.
If it works for one of the most addictive substances on the planet, I don't know why anyone wouldn't expect it to work on sweetened drinks too.9 -
I'm in the same county. Like Monkey, I won't be affected often by the new tax because I mainly drink bottled or filtered water or home-made coffee. That said, I think it's ridiculous. Like the OP, when the time comes to buy pops and juice pouches for parties at my house I will be traveling to the next county over to avoid both the 10% tax as well as the beverage tax. Heck, that's where I'll buy my liquor too while I'm there because that's also taxed lower. I do however feel this will most affect the lower income people that live in parts of the county where there are well documented food deserts and where those same people don't have vehicles to travel to regular grocery stores to buy healthier foods, let alone have the luxury of disposable cash to buy bottled water. Luckily, me and the OP do have the luxury of going elsewhere to mostly avoid the tax.4
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I just don't think the average person thinks about how much tax will be charged on an item while they are shopping, unless it's a very large purchase like a car or something. If they are buying a box of soda with all their other groceries, they might not even notice. It seems to me like a big contributor to the obesity problem is mindless eating, mindless food choices. Most people just aren't paying attention.6
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If a person wants it bad enough, they'll skip the lettuce to buy a case of pop. On paper, a junk tax is good for a nation's financial health. In reality it will only affect those who just need a little encouragement to make better dietary choices. I love A&W root beer but I'd have no problem paying a junk tax for it, especially it meant removing taxes from necessities like tampons.7
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It's going to push more people to move their purchases across the county line, which will reduce tax revenue, which will increase taxes...
At some point, the county will go bankrupt(See California) due to income drain.11 -
stanmann571 wrote: »It's going to push more people to move their purchases across the county line, which will reduce tax revenue, which will increase taxes...
At some point, the county will go bankrupt(See California) due to income drain.
^^^ this is the biggest effect that it will have (not a reduction of people drinking the sodas).4 -
My biggest beef was the randomness of it. And I didn't like the "jury is out" statement about the safety of artificial sweeteners. It implies that diet sodas are somehow worse for you than a frappuccino. How come McDonald's has to apply the tax to a Diet Coke, but Starbucks doesn't for a 500 calorie, high fat beverage?7
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stanmann571 wrote: »It's going to push more people to move their purchases across the county line, which will reduce tax revenue, which will increase taxes...
At some point, the county will go bankrupt(See California) due to income drain.
I'm pretty sure this is in IL (Cook County, i.e. Chicago). The state is already teetering on bankruptcy.0 -
The tax on artificially sweetened beverages is a real reach.
I'd either shop in another county or do without at that level of taxation.1 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »My county just implemented a tax on all "sweetened beverages", including those with artificial sweeteners. They say it is to combat obesity and encourage people to select "healthier" beverages. They said that there are "conflicting reports" on the health effects of artificial sweeteners. Whatever...obviously, the real reason is to increase revenue for the county. That is not up for debate. But, do you think a tax like this, despite the real reason behind it, really could have an effect of people's health? Will they really select a bottle of water instead of a Coke to avoid the tax? I'm thinking no.
Here's the details of the tax...it is one penny per ounce and applies to:
-Regular and diet sodas, sweetened teas, bottled sweetened coffee, sports drinks, energy drinks, any sweetened dairy beverage that is less than 50% milk, and juice products that are not 100% juice.
-This applies to all retailers, restaurants, bars, and vending machines, including fountain drinks in those establishments.
It does NOT apply to:
-100% fruit/vegetable juice
-Weight reduction/meal replacement beverages
-Made to order coffee drinks (Starbucks)
-Sparkling water
-Milk substitutes (almond, soy, etc.)
A penny per ounce can add up...I usually buy the 35 can case of Coke Zero at Costco. The tax will add $4.20 to the price (35 x 12oz). This is IN ADDITION to our regular 10% sales tax. I will be visiting a Costco in the next county over for my Coke Zero.
Would this tax discourage you from buying these beverages?
Re: the bolded - you and a whole lot of other folks will likely go to the next county to buy your Coke Zero (or whatever). And while you're there, you will probably also buy all the other things you normally would at Costco. So, the county has not only lost out on the revenue from the stupid beverage tax, but also the tax revenue it would have collected on all your other purchases but now won't because they've chased all business into the next county. Brilliant :huh:12 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »My county just implemented a tax on all "sweetened beverages", including those with artificial sweeteners. They say it is to combat obesity and encourage people to select "healthier" beverages. They said that there are "conflicting reports" on the health effects of artificial sweeteners. Whatever...obviously, the real reason is to increase revenue for the county. That is not up for debate. But, do you think a tax like this, despite the real reason behind it, really could have an effect of people's health? Will they really select a bottle of water instead of a Coke to avoid the tax? I'm thinking no.
Here's the details of the tax...it is one penny per ounce and applies to:
-Regular and diet sodas, sweetened teas, bottled sweetened coffee, sports drinks, energy drinks, any sweetened dairy beverage that is less than 50% milk, and juice products that are not 100% juice.
-This applies to all retailers, restaurants, bars, and vending machines, including fountain drinks in those establishments.
It does NOT apply to:
-100% fruit/vegetable juice
-Weight reduction/meal replacement beverages
-Made to order coffee drinks (Starbucks)
-Sparkling water
-Milk substitutes (almond, soy, etc.)
A penny per ounce can add up...I usually buy the 35 can case of Coke Zero at Costco. The tax will add $4.20 to the price (35 x 12oz). This is IN ADDITION to our regular 10% sales tax. I will be visiting a Costco in the next county over for my Coke Zero.
Would this tax discourage you from buying these beverages?
Re: the bolded - you and a whole lot of other folks will likely go to the next county to buy your Coke Zero (or whatever). And while you're there, you will probably also buy all the other things you normally would at Costco. So, the county has not only lost out on the revenue from the stupid beverage tax, but also the tax revenue it would have collected on all your other purchases but now won't because they've chased all business into the next county. Brilliant :huh:
Exactly. And that's why it's something that has more of an effect on lower-income people who may not so easily be able to shop elsewhere.
This is also why it's BS that this is about people's health. The county WANTS people to still buy the sweet beverages...they are counting on the fact that you will so they can get the revenue. If people DID actually make "better" choices, they would not get the funds they are counting on.4 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »My county just implemented a tax on all "sweetened beverages", including those with artificial sweeteners. They say it is to combat obesity and encourage people to select "healthier" beverages. They said that there are "conflicting reports" on the health effects of artificial sweeteners. Whatever...obviously, the real reason is to increase revenue for the county. That is not up for debate. But, do you think a tax like this, despite the real reason behind it, really could have an effect of people's health? Will they really select a bottle of water instead of a Coke to avoid the tax? I'm thinking no.
Here's the details of the tax...it is one penny per ounce and applies to:
-Regular and diet sodas, sweetened teas, bottled sweetened coffee, sports drinks, energy drinks, any sweetened dairy beverage that is less than 50% milk, and juice products that are not 100% juice.
-This applies to all retailers, restaurants, bars, and vending machines, including fountain drinks in those establishments.
It does NOT apply to:
-100% fruit/vegetable juice
-Weight reduction/meal replacement beverages
-Made to order coffee drinks (Starbucks)
-Sparkling water
-Milk substitutes (almond, soy, etc.)
A penny per ounce can add up...I usually buy the 35 can case of Coke Zero at Costco. The tax will add $4.20 to the price (35 x 12oz). This is IN ADDITION to our regular 10% sales tax. I will be visiting a Costco in the next county over for my Coke Zero.
Would this tax discourage you from buying these beverages?
Re: the bolded - you and a whole lot of other folks will likely go to the next county to buy your Coke Zero (or whatever). And while you're there, you will probably also buy all the other things you normally would at Costco. So, the county has not only lost out on the revenue from the stupid beverage tax, but also the tax revenue it would have collected on all your other purchases but now won't because they've chased all business into the next county. Brilliant :huh:
Exactly. And that's why it's something that has more of an effect on lower-income people who may not so easily be able to shop elsewhere.
This is also why it's BS that this is about people's health. The county WANTS people to still buy the sweet beverages...they are counting on the fact that you will so they can get the revenue. If people DID actually make "better" choices, they would not get the funds they are counting on.
I remember when they jacked up taxes on cigarettes with the promise that it would get people to quit and also fund children's health insurance and I thought "you can't really have both, now can you?"3 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »My county just implemented a tax on all "sweetened beverages", including those with artificial sweeteners. They say it is to combat obesity and encourage people to select "healthier" beverages. They said that there are "conflicting reports" on the health effects of artificial sweeteners. Whatever...obviously, the real reason is to increase revenue for the county. That is not up for debate. But, do you think a tax like this, despite the real reason behind it, really could have an effect of people's health? Will they really select a bottle of water instead of a Coke to avoid the tax? I'm thinking no.
Here's the details of the tax...it is one penny per ounce and applies to:
-Regular and diet sodas, sweetened teas, bottled sweetened coffee, sports drinks, energy drinks, any sweetened dairy beverage that is less than 50% milk, and juice products that are not 100% juice.
-This applies to all retailers, restaurants, bars, and vending machines, including fountain drinks in those establishments.
It does NOT apply to:
-100% fruit/vegetable juice
-Weight reduction/meal replacement beverages
-Made to order coffee drinks (Starbucks)
-Sparkling water
-Milk substitutes (almond, soy, etc.)
A penny per ounce can add up...I usually buy the 35 can case of Coke Zero at Costco. The tax will add $4.20 to the price (35 x 12oz). This is IN ADDITION to our regular 10% sales tax. I will be visiting a Costco in the next county over for my Coke Zero.
Would this tax discourage you from buying these beverages?
Re: the bolded - you and a whole lot of other folks will likely go to the next county to buy your Coke Zero (or whatever). And while you're there, you will probably also buy all the other things you normally would at Costco. So, the county has not only lost out on the revenue from the stupid beverage tax, but also the tax revenue it would have collected on all your other purchases but now won't because they've chased all business into the next county. Brilliant :huh:
FWIW Except for those on the fringes, many/most people will spend more on transportation than they will save leaving the county to buy cheaper soda. The effect you describe will likely be modest and has been figured into the projections.
(For the record, I don't agree with the tax at all)
5 -
Also, FWIW, Costco doesn't have the best prices on brand soda. It's on sale pretty regularly at jewel at a cheaper price. Which makes driving to Oak Brook or Gurnee or Lake Zurich even more impractical.
(Again, for the record, I don't agree with the tax at all).2 -
It's stupid. When new taxes are created it's just for ONE reason.......................to make more money than they already are spending.
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What's it gonna do to places like 7-11, where you fix your tea in the back, take it to the front to pay. How will you prove it is sweet or not?
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Drive to next county, purchase Coke, drive home. Soda tax is a stupid idea.
Coke and other sodas and sweetened drinks have been around for a very long time. Why do we suddenly need to discourage people from drinking something they want? I don't see it making a significant impact on the overall health of the people in the area, it will just pad the county's revenue stream at strip a little more disposable income out of the local economy. Lame.
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