National Soda Tax Bill Introduced

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Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut introduced a national soda tax bill on July 30, 2014. The bill would amend the I.R.S. code and charge a penny per teaspoon of sugar, high-fructose corn syrup or other caloric sweeteners — “to be paid by the manufacturer, producer or importer of such products.” The law would not include drinks like milk and 100 percent fruit juices.

DeLauro believes the tax would help curb sugary drink consumption, a source of excess sugar and calories in many Americans’ diets, leading to various chronic disease issues like obesity and diabetes. 

According to a Chicago Tribune article, DeLauro knows the chances of the bill passing are slim, but she wants to bring the debate to Washington, perhaps bolstering local efforts to curb sugary drink consumption.

Read food policy guru Mark Bittman’s op-ed about the new bill.

Read the full-text of the bill.

Previously:

In a video at the National Soda Summit in early June, U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro announced that she is working on legislation to tax beverages with added sugar. She hopes to introduce the legislation “in a matter of weeks.” Check out the video.

Read more about Rep. DeLauro’s proposal in the news.

Read more about how a sugary drink tax would curb soda consumption in Latino youth.