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Soda Taxes

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Food Policy

Study: Seattle's Soda Tax Has Been Great for…Beer Sales?

The substitution effect is real.

Baylen Linnekin | 2.12.2022 10:03 AM

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Soda Taxes

Joe Biden's Pick for Top Economic Adviser, Neera Tanden, Endorsed Bill Creating a National Soda Tax

The national soda tax may be a small but telling example of how Tanden views policy making.

Eric Boehm | 12.2.2020 11:50 AM

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Soda Taxes

Medical Groups Endorse New Taxes and Marketing Restrictions on Soda

For the children, of course

Baylen Linnekin | 3.30.2019 8:00 AM

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Soda Taxes

Proposed Anti-Soda Bills in California Would Ban Big Gulps, Mandate Warning Labels on Vending Machines

State legislators are preparing to take the nanny state to the next level

Christian Britschgi | 2.20.2019 2:30 PM

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Soda Taxes

Was Philadelphia's Soda Tax the Result of a Union-Versus-Union Political Fight?

Indicted union boss John "Johnny Doc" Dougherty ordered the soda tax passed to hurt the city's Teamsters union, federal prosecutors say.

Eric Boehm | 2.14.2019 11:50 AM

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Cigarettes

Minneapolis' Healthy Foods Mandate Screws Over Ethnic Grocers

The city's Staple Food Ordinance mandates that stores carry products customers don't want.

Christian Britschgi | 11.22.2018 7:20 AM

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Tariffs

A Jump in Soda Prices Should Make it Clear that Tariffs Are Just Taxes on Ourselves

Don't blame progressive city leaders for this increase.

Scott Shackford | 7.30.2018 1:25 PM

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Food Policy

State Legislatures and City Governments Are Going to Battle Over Food Taxes

Will Philly soda tax win cause local food taxes to "bubble up," or could it spur still more states to squash local food taxes?

Baylen Linnekin | 7.28.2018 6:35 AM

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Soda Taxes

The Philly Soda Tax May Be Legal, But It's Still Bad Policy

The State Supreme Court won't overturn the tax, so lawmakers should do it instead.

Eric Boehm | 7.20.2018 12:00 PM

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Jerry Brown

Jerry Brown Signs Soda Tax Ban (Yay!) So That California Cities Can Tax Other Things (Boo)

California's governor signed a bill no one likes in order to keep taxpayers from having a say.

Joe Setyon | 6.29.2018 1:30 PM

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Soda Taxes

Philly Tax Spurs Black Market Soda Smuggling

A beverage tax provokes a strange but predictable response.

Christian Britschgi | 3.16.2018 1:30 PM

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Reasontv

Stossel: The Philly Soda Tax Scam

John Stossel fights with a Philadelphia City Councilman about the city's new soda tax.

John Stossel and Maxim Lott | 3.13.2018 11:15 AM

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Baltimore

Baltimore Mulls Law to Banish Soda From Kids Menus

The government is taking an increased interest in your dining decisions.

Christian Britschgi | 2.15.2018 12:35 PM

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Seattle

Seattle Soda Tax Prompts Price Increases, Small Business Pain

Similar taxes in other cities have led to lost jobs and without bringing in the expected revenue.

Christian Britschgi | 1.8.2018 12:50 PM

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Soda Taxes

Chicago's Soda Tax Fizzles

Everybody realized it was about bringing in money, not improving public health.

Baylen Linnekin | 10.14.2017 8:00 AM

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Soda Taxes

Cook County, Illinois, Experiences Disastrous Rollout of Its Soda Tax

Budget chaos at the state level isn't helping.

Christian Britschgi | 6.13.2017 10:30 AM

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Soda Taxes

Seattle Passes Regressive Soda Tax

The city will now tax soda at a rate eight times higher than beer.

Christian Britschgi | 6.6.2017 2:30 PM

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Soda Taxes

The Truth About Seattle's Proposed Soda Tax and its Ilk

It's one of a growing number of misguided anti-soda laws around the country.

Baylen Linnekin | 6.3.2017 8:00 AM

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Soda Taxes

Seattle Mayor Proposes Soda Tax To Fight White Privilege

A similar tax was roundly rejected in Santa Fe this week.

Christian Britschgi | 5.5.2017 2:15 PM

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Soda Taxes

Philadelphia Says Soda Tax Revenue Exceeded Projections in February, While Pepsi Stops Offering Two Liter Bottles, Six-Packs

The city wants to borrow $300 million based on how much it thinks it'll raise from the tax.

Ed Krayewski | 3.23.2017 3:30 PM

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Soda Taxes

With Sales Depressed by Soda Tax, Philly Grocers Look to Cut Jobs as Mayor Blames 'Greedy' Soda Industry

One of the city's largest beverage distributors is planning to cut 20 percent of its workforce; grocery stores across the city are also planning to shed jobs.

Eric Boehm | 2.22.2017 2:33 PM

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Soda Taxes

Illinois Hoping Citizens Drink State's Debts Away with Statewide Soda Tax

Skyrocketing costs, financial crisis make the Land of Lincoln very thirsty.

Scott Shackford | 1.24.2017 1:10 PM

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Soda Taxes

Philly Mayor Blames 'Price Gouging' for Outrage Generated by City's New Soda Tax

Businesses are passing along the cost of the tax to consumers, because that's how taxes work. Someone get Jim Kenney an economics textbook.

Eric Boehm | 1.11.2017 2:14 PM

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Philadelphia

Outrage in Philadelphia as New Soda Tax Doubles Drink Prices

That won't stop other cities and states from trying to duplicate the dubious policy.

Eric Boehm | 1.5.2017 10:35 AM

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Soda Taxes

Harvard Study Promising Huge Health Benefits From Soda Tax Clashes With Reality

Models versus reality.

Guy Bentley | 12.14.2016 2:30 PM

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Soda Taxes

Five More U.S. Jurisdictions Imposed Soda Taxes Last Week

Cook County, Boulder, San Francisco, Oakland, and Albany, California, join Berkeley and Philadelphia in penalizing soft drink consumers.

Jacob Sullum | 11.15.2016 11:35 AM

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Soda Taxes

Why the World Health Organization is Wrong on Soda Taxes

WHO's proposal that countries enact steep fees globally is wrong and unjustified.

Baylen Linnekin | 10.15.2016 8:00 AM

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WHO

WHO Worries Africans are Getting Too Fat

Suggests taxing their sodas to help

Christian Britschgi | 10.13.2016 11:45 AM

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Soda Taxes

Philadelphia's Soda Tax Is a Bad Idea Other Cities Will Copy

Despite promises from activists and lawmakers, it won't help low-income consumers.

Baylen Linnekin | 7.2.2016 7:35 AM

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Soda Taxes

Philadelphia's New Soda Tax Has Nothing to Do With Obesity

The city council rejected regressive paternalism in favor of a simple money grab.

Jacob Sullum | 6.17.2016 6:30 AM

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Soda Taxes

Philadelphia's Soda Tax Is About Raising Revenue, Not Public Health

Mayor Jim Kenney freely admits it's a way for the city to make money.

Anthony Fisher | 6.9.2016 12:55 PM

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Policy

Are Facts Turning the Tide Against Soda Taxes?

New data out of Mexico pour cold water over heated rhetoric.

Baylen Linnekin | 5.7.2016 8:00 AM

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Politics

A Soda Tax As Found Money

Hillary Clinton joins Philadelphia's mayor in playing down the levy's paternalistic purpose.

Jacob Sullum | 4.27.2016 12:01 AM

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Soda Taxes

Bernie Sanders Calls Out Hillary Clinton for Supporting Soda Taxes

Nanny tendencies overcome promise not to raise taxes on the less wealthy.

Scott Shackford | 4.22.2016 12:05 PM

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Politics

When Did the U.S. Repeal the Laws of Supply and Demand?

Of soda taxes and minimum wages.

A. Barton Hinkle | 4.6.2016 12:00 PM

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Brickbats

Brickbat: Sugar, Sugar

Charles Oliver | 3.24.2016 4:00 AM

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Policy

Is Mexico's Soda Tax Really Working?

Can we really say taxes that reduce consumption but aren't reducing obesity are effective?

Baylen Linnekin | 2.13.2016 8:00 AM

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Policy

Did Soda Tax Proposals Cause a Decline in Soda Consumption That Started Years Earlier?

Probably not, but The New York Times is eager to credit politicians.

Jacob Sullum | 10.7.2015 7:30 AM

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Politics

Last (and Next) Year in Food Policy

A handful of food policy cognoscenti discuss the top food policy issues of 2014 and predict what might happen in 2015.

Baylen Linnekin | 1.3.2015 8:00 AM

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Nanny State

Taxing Away Sweet Drinks: Plenty of Baptists, But No Bootleggers

Soda tax moralizers are easy to find, but where are our sweetened-beverage bootleggers?

Adam Smith and Bruce Yandle | 11.27.2014 4:30 PM

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Politics

How Food Fared at the Voting Booth

Tuesday was a mixed bag for food policy.

Baylen Linnekin | 11.8.2014 8:00 AM

Policy

Berkeley Passes Sin Tax on Soda

But San Francisco rejects a similar measure.

Jesse Walker | 11.5.2014 11:30 AM

Politics

The Left's Populist Tax Agenda

Direct ballot initiatives are democracy at its best, but also at its worst.

Ira Stoll | 9.29.2014 4:30 PM

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Politics

There's Nothing SWEET About the National Soda Tax

Rep. Rosa DeLauro's SWEET Act would implement an excise tax on soda and other sweetened drinks. Supporters of the measure are difficult to find.

Baylen Linnekin | 8.23.2014 8:00 AM

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Policy

Soda Tax Proposal Falls Flat in Illinois

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 5.27.2014 3:38 PM

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Policy

Soda Warning Labels Could Soon Be a Thing in California

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 4.11.2014 10:05 AM

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Policy

Study: Soda Tax Support Low Overall; Higher Among Millennials, College Grads, Democrats

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 3.31.2014 9:50 AM

Politics

Pouring Cold Water on San Francisco's Proposed Soda Tax

Baylen Linnekin | 11.30.2013 8:00 AM

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