Big Soda digs in for a fight over proposed Cook County beverage tax

[TexasTowelie]

The war on soda, popping up in towns across the country, is escalating in Cook County.

As it has in other locales, the soda industry is digging in to fight a proposed sweetened beverage tax, which would add a penny-per-ounce to the cost of sugar- and artificially sweetened drinks if approved by Cook County commissioners next month.

And as they are in cities like San Francisco and Boulder, Colo., local officials are making the case for public health, pointing to mounting evidence linking sugar-sweetened beverages to obesity, diabetes and other health conditions.

But some 920,000 Cook County residents who receive food stamp benefits wouldn't pay any more than they do now, calling into question how effective the tax will be at reducing consumption in some of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods with high rates of obesity and diabetes. Under federal law, purchases made with benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are exempt from state and local taxes.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-soda-tax-impact-1030-biz-20161028-story.html

[Panich52]

1. I detest sin taxes

They affect low income more, they're a form of govt control of citizenry which impinges on free expression/choices, and any recipient of the increase in govt coffers eventually drains money from other areas as the intended goal — less use or consumption of targeted product or activity — falls, thereby reducing money govt takes in.

[TexasTowelie]

2. I don't know if you read the entire article,

but those that receive SNAP benefits will not pay tax if they use their SNAP cards. Of course the tax still applies if they are making spot purchases.

I agree that the tax probably won't collect the revenues intended due to changes in behavior.

[Panich52]

3. There are plenty of low income folk who aren't on SNAP.

Besides, increased price us only part of my argument.