What shoppers need to know about the Cook County pop tax

[TexasTowelie]

That 2-liter of pop you're picking up for the Fourth of July picnic might pack a little sticker shock this year as Cook County rolls out a new penny-per-ounce tax on a wide variety of sugar- and artificially-sweetened beverages.

As one example, a 2-liter bottle, which usually costs about $1, will incur a 67-cent soda tax.

The county's sweetened beverage tax, which takes effect July 1, is one of many so-called soda taxes popping up across the country as elected officials seize upon the opportunity to raise revenue while attempting to improve public health. Conditions such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease are linked to consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, though the science on artificially sweetened beverages is less conclusive.

This policy trend has pit public health experts and local leaders against the beverage industry and small-business owners.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-cook-county-soda-tax-preview-0625-biz-20170622-story.html

[Freddie]

1. Good idea but

The beverage industry is fighting this fiercely with zillions in advertising and lawyers. You can't listen to the radio in the Philly area for 5 minutes without hearing an ad about it ("stop the grocery tax!" and the poor guy who can't make a living anymore delivering soda) plus I think it's at least their 2nd lawsuit about it pending.
If it's another "sin tax" (which I have no objection to) I don't get why they're taxing diet drinks too. Probably difficult to administer taxing one but not the other.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Unintended consequences

Bootleg soda/pop coming in from other counties. Like cigarettes from Native American reservations or southern states.

[TexasTowelie]

3. Agreed.

When the taxing district is such a small geographic area then people simply take their purchasing elsewhere. And while they are picking up soda at the store they might decide to stock up on other items too, thus taking more sales receipts. The soda tax doesn't seem to be working in Philadelphia and it probably won't in Cook County either.