Photo by voteprimeD.C. Council Member Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) has proposed a one-cent tax per ounce of soda and other sugary beverages sold in the District. The expected $6.5 million in tax revenue would help fund the Healthy Schools Act of 2010, which comes up for final vote on May 4. The Act seeks to improve the nutrition and health of public school students by providing more affordable, healthier meals to students, establish farm to table programs, and fund wellness and physical fitness programs.
This tax has the potential to go far in helping both D.C. school children as well as D.C. residents. Cheh suggests in her proposal that Center for Disease Control studies show a tax of 1 cent per ounce on soft drinks — or approximately 10 percent per 12 ounce can or bottle — would be the “single most effective measure to reverse the obesity epidemic.” Research shows that the consumption of one soft drink a day adds approximately 10 pounds of weight a year.
This type of tax is not a novel idea. Both Maryland and Virginia have soda taxes of 6 and 1.5 percent, respectively. A soda tax has also been enacted in 26 other states.
The measure comes to vote on May 25. Would a tax like this deter you from consuming as many soft drinks as usual, or would you continue to pay up? Would you drive to Maryland or Virginia to get a cheaper fix?
