Philly passes Soda Tax

[DoctorStrongbad]

http://money.cnn.com/2016/06/16/pf/taxes/philadelphia-passes-a-soda-tax/index.html

Philadelphia has become the second city in the United States to approve a soda tax.The new soda tax would be on top of the 8% sales tax that already applies to soda in Pennsylvania. Soda is classified as food, which is tax exempt in some states, but not in Pennsylvania.

A tax like this will only hurt poor people, who often can't afford to buy healthier drinks, such as milk and juice. Besides, what business is it of the state's what people choose to eat and drink?

[BrandonIsNear]

At 6/18/16 12:24 PM, DoctorStrongbad wrote: http://money.cnn.com/2016/06/16/pf/taxes/philadelphia-passes-a-soda-tax/index.html

Philadelphia has become the second city in the United States to approve a soda tax.The new soda tax would be on top of the 8% sales tax that already applies to soda in Pennsylvania. Soda is classified as food, which is tax exempt in some states, but not in Pennsylvania.

A tax like this will only hurt poor people, who often can't afford to buy healthier drinks, such as milk and juice. Besides, what business is it of the state's what people choose to eat and drink?

This is dumb because it's not the government's duty to control what people eat and drink so long as it's non intoxicating or whatever. It's cheap and it's just something people enjoy, whether or not in large quantities isn't really the state's business.
Plus as a side note, an additional tax kind of exempts the can return money, so it makes recycling the cans less appealing.

[DoctorStrongbad]

At 6/18/16 12:32 PM, BrandonIsNear wrote: This is dumb because it's not the government's duty to control what people eat and drink so long as it's non intoxicating or whatever. It's cheap and it's just something people enjoy, whether or not in large quantities isn't really the state's business.
Plus as a side note, an additional tax kind of exempts the can return money, so it makes recycling the cans less appealing.

I agree. Taxing soda is Philly is stupid, people can go to a neighboring city and get it.

[DoctorStrongbad]

At 6/18/16 01:35 PM, BonemanCharles wrote: I dont drink soda ever, but this tax is just bullshit

What will be next a candy tax? A sugar tax?

At 6/18/16 02:00 PM, limerevolver wrote: Literally Nazis

The City of Philly does not want its citizens to have soda.

[FinaLee]

At 6/18/16 12:24 PM, DoctorStrongbad wrote: A tax like this will only hurt poor people, who often can't afford to buy healthier drinks, such as milk and juice.

Let's be honest, juice is generally not a healthy beverage. The servings of sugar can reach between 18 to 30 grams in a serving. I'm looking at my Publix brand OJ right now and it's got 28g. Not healthy at all.

I'm not sure what to make on this. It seems like a sin tax to me, so if it's effective in curbing the population's use of sugar, then I completely support it. NYC is the only other city that does this, iirc. What I would like most concerning this issue is for the FDA to establish a daily value of sugar just like almost everything else on the nutritional labels.

[someaveragechap]

As long as it's not Michigan passing the tax...

Their water is still iffy.

But seriously... there's too many fat asses, time to start making empty calories painful.

[DoctorStrongbad]

At 6/18/16 02:29 PM, FinaLee wrote: Let's be honest, juice is generally not a healthy beverage. The servings of sugar can reach between 18 to 30 grams in a serving. I'm looking at my Publix brand OJ right now and it's got 28g. Not healthy at all.

That is true, but there is no Juice tax. At least, not yet.

I'm not sure what to make on this. It seems like a sin tax to me, so if it's effective in curbing the population's use of sugar, then I completely support it. NYC is the only other city that does this, iirc. What I would like most concerning this issue is for the FDA to establish a daily value of sugar just like almost everything else on the nutritional labels.

The tax does seem to be a way to cash in on the success of soda. Will the Mayor actually use the money on what he claims? Probably not.

[someaveragechap]

At 6/18/16 03:19 PM, SithCorduroy wrote: I drink it and I like it, damn it!

That explains things a @Bit :)

[DoctorStrongbad]

At 6/18/16 03:12 PM, someaveragechap wrote: As long as it's not Michigan passing the tax...
Their water is still iffy.
But seriously... there's too many fat asses, time to start making empty calories painful.

Philly is the second city to pass the soda tax. Your city could be next.

At 6/18/16 03:19 PM, SithCorduroy wrote: I drink it and I like it, damn it!

If you hate water, drink more soda. They want you hooked so they can tax it.

[Tony-DarkGrave]

At 6/18/16 03:19 PM, SithCorduroy wrote:

At 6/18/16 03:12 PM, someaveragechap wrote: As long as it's not Michigan passing the tax...

Their water is still iffy.

I drink it and I like it, damn it!

and what's it like with your taxes paying for that cancerous tumor called Detroit?

[DoctorStrongbad]

At 6/18/16 03:31 PM, MemeFiend3 wrote: They already made one a long time ago, but it would be bad for business if people saw their favorite soda and snacks had 700% of their recommended sugar intake, so they just leave that one off the packages ;)

There is so much sugar in most things. A sugar test would effect almost everything.

At 6/18/16 03:33 PM, SithCorduroy wrote: I'm just sick of water. It's so plain.

We need to switch to Brawndo.

It could be better than some city's water.

[RocketHorse]

I mean whatever
Anything bad for you taxed anyway

[DoctorStrongbad]

At 6/18/16 04:22 PM, Tony-DarkGrave wrote: and what's it like with your taxes paying for that cancerous tumor called Detroit?

Nobody wants to do that.

At 6/18/16 04:40 PM, SithCorduroy wrote: Why would you assume I'm a tax payer?

Are you an illegal alien?

[GoryBlizzard]

Bloomberg wanted to do this here in NYC when he was mayor, but did not succeed. However, I feel like de Blasio might pick up where Bloomberg left off in this area. We now have a new 5 cent plastic bag tax and I guess we're going to continue being nickel and dimed.

[AnonOfCali]

At 6/18/16 02:29 PM, FinaLee wrote:

publix shopper die

[Kiwi]

Personally, I would stop drinking soda due to this. A lot of people probably wouldn't be on board with that solution.

If a multitude of people also stopped drinking soda (enough to make an impact in the soda economy), the price of soda would drop, due to demand dropping. If it affected the economy enough, they could revoke the tax.

Only time will tell.

[FinaLee]

At 6/18/16 08:43 PM, AnonOfCali wrote:

At 6/18/16 02:29 PM, FinaLee wrote:

publix shopper die

What's the matter with Publix?

[BloodPact]

Liberal babysitting strikes again!

[wwwyzzerdd]

At 6/18/16 09:13 PM, FinaLee wrote:

At 6/18/16 08:43 PM, AnonOfCali wrote:

At 6/18/16 02:29 PM, FinaLee wrote:

publix shopper die

What's the matter with Publix.

I know!?! It's Where Shopping Is A Pleasure.

[Void]

It's supposed to help stop childhood obesity or something like that. The UK introduced a sugar tax on soft drinks as well

[DoctorStrongbad]

At 6/18/16 07:00 PM, GoryBlizzard wrote: Bloomberg wanted to do this here in NYC when he was mayor, but did not succeed. However, I feel like de Blasio might pick up where Bloomberg left off in this area. We now have a new 5 cent plastic bag tax and I guess we're going to continue being nickel and dimed.

How does that plastic bag tax work?

NYC could be the next city with the soda tax.

At 6/18/16 07:16 PM, yurgenburgen wrote: milk, juice and straight up tap water are all substantially cheaper than soda though

That is true, but teenagers love soda.

[GoryBlizzard]

At 6/18/16 11:04 PM, DoctorStrongbad wrote: How does that plastic bag tax work?

Stores have to charge 5 cents per plastic bag used. Surprisingly, they get to keep the money--none of it goes to the government. However, there will be undercover checks and stores can be fined for not charging the fee. The law goes into full effect in April 2017.

[DoctorStrongbad]

At 6/18/16 08:57 PM, Kayleeee wrote: Personally, I would stop drinking soda due to this. A lot of people probably wouldn't be on board with that solution.

I would as well. Kool Aid and lemonade will both work in a pinch.

If a multitude of people also stopped drinking soda (enough to make an impact in the soda economy), the price of soda would drop, due to demand dropping. If it affected the economy enough, they could revoke the tax.

Anything to stop an unfair tax.

At 6/18/16 09:47 PM, YellowisCOOL wrote: It's supposed to help stop childhood obesity or something like that. The UK introduced a sugar tax on soft drinks as well

When did that start? How much is the tax?

[Void]

At 6/19/16 01:48 AM, DoctorStrongbad wrote: When did that start? How much is the tax?

This might explain everything better than I will
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/77970735/uk-introduces-sugar-tax-on-soft-drinks.html

[Ganon-Dorf]

They can just drink water, it's not hard.

[mothballs]

At 6/18/16 02:49 PM, Zachary wrote:

At 6/18/16 12:24 PM, DoctorStrongbad wrote: A tax like this will only hurt poor people, who often can't afford to buy healthier drinks, such as milk and juice. Besides, what business is it of the state's what people choose to eat and drink?

Ever hear of water before?

That's what I was thinking. Since when do poor people live off soda because it's the cheapest drink? Both are news to me.

[DoctorStrongbad]

At 6/18/16 11:26 PM, GoryBlizzard wrote: Stores have to charge 5 cents per plastic bag used. Surprisingly, they get to keep the money--none of it goes to the government. However, there will be undercover checks and stores can be fined for not charging the fee. The law goes into full effect in April 2017.

What is the point of having stores charge the tax? Seems like the stores would just make more prohibit.

[AnonOfCali]

At 6/18/16 09:44 PM, wwwyzzerdd wrote:

I know!?! It's Where Shopping Is A Pleasure.

then stay there and stop coming at me with your damn coupons in winn dixie

[Kiwi]

At 6/19/16 02:54 AM, Sekhem wrote:

At 6/18/16 08:57 PM, Kayleeee wrote: If a multitude of people also stopped drinking soda (enough to make an impact in the soda economy), the price of soda would drop, due to demand dropping. If it affected the economy enough, they could revoke the tax.

u.s. soda sales are already declining

If you say it, it must be true

[DoctorStrongbad]

At 6/19/16 01:57 AM, YellowisCOOL wrote: This might explain everything better than I will
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/77970735/uk-introduces-sugar-tax-on-soft-drinks.html

Thank you for the link. The UK will be a sad place for soda drinkers.

At 6/19/16 02:54 AM, Sekhem wrote: u.s. soda sales are already declining
they won't care

Do you have proof?

coca-cola is focusing its attention on asian markets and africa where it's a growth industry (and much larger than america)

Where did you hear this information?

people who like soda aren't going to quit drinking it

We will have to see if the tax hurts the sale of soda.