San Francisco Supervisor Proposing Tax on Sodas, Sugary Drinks
It could cost more to get a soda or sugary drink in San Francisco in the future.
Supervisor Scott Wiener plans to propose legislation at Tuesday’s board meeting, with the proposal including a 2-cents-per-ounce tax on sugary beverages that have at least 25 calories per 12 ounces.
“This is a pretty basic public health measure. We have had an explosion of Type 2 diabetes, obesity and other health problems directly attributable to sugar-sweetened beverages,” Wiener said. “These are a known cause of the increase in Type 2 diabetes, to the point where if we don’t change anything, children born today, a third of them will develop diabetes in their lifetime.”
According to Wiener’s office, the tax would generate an estimated $31 million in revenue, which would be used to fund health, nutrition and physical activity programs in San Francisco. They also estimate that a one-cent-per-ounce tax could cut consumption of sugary drinks by up to 10 percent.
The proposal will need support from a majority of the Board of Supervisors to be placed on the November 2014 ballot, and then two-thirds of city voters to approve the measure.
A similar tax measure failed in the city of Richmond last year, as well as the Los Angeles County town of El Monte.
Photo Credit: Marlith, Wikimedia Commons
