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Talking
soda
tax
August 1, 2014 --
Last weekend I helped staff a sidewalk table at a farmer's market.
We harangued the passersby. Some brushed us off.
Most were polite and surprisingly well-informed on nutrition.
For those who weren't, here were our talking points.
Health Issues
- Soda is the largest source of sugar in the American diet.
- Liquid sweeteners disrupt bodily metabolism. The liver processes them differently than it does solid sugars. Eventually this leads to diabetes.
- We have an epidemic of diabetes.
Legislative Issues
- Purposes of the tax:
1. Reduce consumption,
2. Raise $31M (est.)
- Use of funds (earmarks):
25% public health
40% school district
25% parks and rec
10% special projects related to nutrition education, PE classes, etc.
- Only drinks with added sweeteners are taxed. Not fruit juices.
- The tax will be collected at distribution, not at retail sales, so grocery stores will be unaffected.
Election Issues
- It's a "special" tax -- earmarked, not for the general fund. We know exactly how it will be spent.
- Special taxes require 66% of the vote, not just 50%+1
- Our opponent, the Coalition for an Affordable City, is funded entirely by the
American Beverage Association. Their canvassers and operatives are paid. Ours are volunteers.
- The argument that this is a regressive tax ignores the fact that diabetes is a regressive disease.
Both soda advertising and sales and diabetes are concentrated in low-income neighborhoods.
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