Is there anything Democratic stronghold California won’t tax? Now state lawmakers are targeting sugary beverages with five bills announced on Wednesday that could see a statewide tax on sugary drinks as well as a ban on the sale of popular jumbo-sized beverages at certain restaurants and convenience stores.
The measures form part of efforts to address the “public health crisis” of health conditions such as obesity and diabetes, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Previous attempts to introduce a tax on soda were unsuccessful but Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), who has proposed similar measures in the past, said the bill was gaining public attention.
"I don't like the fact that my bill hasn't made it through the legislature in the two times that I've tried it," Bloom said, according to CNBC. "But I can tell you that the support from the public during those years and leading up to now has been uniformly positive."
No official amount of tax has been confirmed yet but in his previous proposals, Bloom suggested a 2-cents-per-fluid-ounce tax, The Los Angeles Times reported. This could raise $2 billion annually- revenue which would fund programs aimed at combating health conditions including diabetes.
Commenting on the proposed legislation, Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco), said the goal was to encourage the public to make healthier choices.
"Big Soda has profited off of life-threatening disease and suffering for too long,” Chiu said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “California is taking common sense measures that shed light on the predatory practices of Big Soda and help consumers make healthier choices.”
American Beverage Association spokesman Steven Maviglio said the proposed taxes placed an "unfair burden on working families and neighborhood businesses already struggling with the state's high cost of living" and that the measures were not supported by California residents, CNBC reported.
"We are committed to working with the legislature on effective ways to address its budgetary and public health concerns and to ensure that food and beverages remain affordable for all Californians," he continued, adding that the "unprecedented commitment to fight obesity by any industry includes long-standing efforts to help people reduce the sugar they get from beverages by offering more choices and smaller portion sizes with less sugar or no sugar at all."
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