Philadelphia To Charge A Tax On Soda

Whether you are a fan of soda or not, you have to admit that charging a tax on soda seems a little too much!

I just think that there are so many other ways that you can help people other than trying to control what they put into their mouth.

Philadelphia has a new distinction- the first major American city with a tax on soda consumption! The tax, which is levied by the ounce, was approved last week and will take effect January 1, 2017, despite a multimillion-dollar campaign by the beverage industry to block it.

The City Council gave final approval to a 1.5-cent-per-ounce tax on sugary and diet beverages. Such plans are typically criticized as disproportionately affecting the poor, who are more likely to consume sugary drinks. Mayor Jim Kenney sold the council on the idea with a plan to spend most of the estimated $90 million in new tax revenue next year to pay for prekindergarten, community schools, and recreation centers. (Newser)

I would love to know what you think about this!