OT - CO soda tax

[gdw]

Does anyone know who is funding the drive to tax soda in CO? Their "volunteers" have canvassed our neighborhood at least twice and were swarming over the parking lot the last time I bought groceries.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by gdw

Does anyone know who is funding the drive to tax soda in CO? Their "volunteers" have canvassed our neighborhood at least twice and were swarming over the parking lot the last time I bought groceries.

Daily camera says its 'Healthy Boulder Kids' coalition, whatever that is.

[grawk]

I'd assume Bloomberg, who bankrolled the push in Philly.

[gdw]

I just read the article in the Camera. The "healthy boulder kids" need to remind their employees, err volunteers, that it will be a local tax and not statewide. They also should advise them to lay off the ganja while working.

[bikingshearer]

It's probably safe to assume that Coca-Cola and PepsiCo will join together to oppose it . . . .

[ultraman6970]

Control groups again? simple, you dont want your kid to drink sugar, get them water, problem solved.

[FlashUNC]

Tax here in Berkeley. Ain't no big thang. You want your poison sugar water, no problem in paying an extra nickel for it.

If it gets us some nicer roads, so be it.

[Big Dan]

Who drinks that stuff anyways?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Big Dan

Who drinks that stuff anyways?

Evidently quite a lot of people. I don't live IN Philly, but I'm just outside in their TV coverage area, and the advertising AGAINST their recently adopted soda tax was all over the tube. I don't think I ever saw a TV ad FOR it, although if I lived in the city there were probably some leaflets and stuff on the "for" side. So the manufacturers, or "Big Soda" see enough of a market to fight like hell against these types of taxes.

-Ray

[Louis]

Would the tax apply to all soda, including 0 cal diet, or just the ones with loads of added sugar?

[gdw]

Their goal in Boulder is a 2 cent tax per ounce on any drink with over 5 grams of sugar or sweeteners per 12oz of liquid. Soda, fruit juice, sports drinks, fountain drinks, etc will be taxed. The money will allegedly be spent on making sure our local kiddies have access to healthy meals.

It doesn't effect me since alcohol isn't on their hit list.

[Louis]

Originally Posted by gdw

It doesn't effect me since alcohol isn't on their hit list.

You better watch it, alcohol is pretty high in calories.

To quote Martin Niemöller,

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

[CunegoFan]

Originally Posted by gdw

Their goal in Boulder is a 2 cent tax per ounce on any drink with over 5 grams of sugar or sweeteners per 12oz of liquid. Soda, fruit juice, sports drinks, fountain drinks, etc will be taxed. The money will allegedly be spent on making sure our local kiddies have access to healthy meals.

I don't know about CO, but Big Gulps cost 99 cents here right now. That would be a whopping 64% tax.

[FlashUNC]

Fwiw, Berkeley assesses it at the store owner level on what they purchase wholesale from bottlers and distributors, its not applied at the register. From what I recall leading up to the vote, the argument was that was easier to implement than at the register with consumers.

So consumers are still paying it, just higher prices across the board.

[gdw]

I'm interested in who is pushing this initiative. We had one of their people stop by this afternoon and now another just showed up. These "volunteers" aren't from our neighborhood or Boulder. Do they get paid by the signature or receive an hourly wage?