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The city can now move forward with the taxing of sugary beverages as a ruling on Monday dismissed the American Beverage Association and other Pennsylvania food and beverage associations lawsuit in “its entirety”, meaning there is no going back after January first when the tax is scheduled to take effect.
Signed by Mayor Jim Kenney, the 1.5 cents per ounce soda tax is estimated to generate around $91million dollars annually and is to be used to fund universal pre-k, support community schools, revitalize parks and fund police body cameras.
Judge Glazer dismissed the ruling against the tax, stating that the tax does not violate the uniformity clause of the Pennsylvania Constitution nor does it conflict with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program as argued by opposers of the tax.
The tax will be passed to distributors and exempt baby formula and beverages that are more than 50% milk fresh fruit or vegetables but include soda, sweet teas, sports drinks, and flavored waters that have sweeteners added.
To learn more about soda taxes and Latino kids, click here.
By The Numbers
74
percent
of Latino kids have had a sugary drink by age 2 (vs. 45% of white kids)
