One day after Philadelphia's new beverage tax went into effect, some consumers are stupefied at the increased cost of sweetened drinks.
The law, which went into effect on Jan. 1, added a 1.5 cents per ounce tax on drinks that are artificially or naturally sweetened. While the tax is colloquially known as the "soda tax," the tax applies to other beverages including juices, sports drinks, iced tea and energy drinks.
Selena Zito, a contributor for CNN and the New York Post, shared a photo of a receipt on her Twitter account. The receipt shows that a case of Propel flavored water that sold for $5.99 had a final cost of $9.75 after tax.
From a Facebook post, the Philadelphia sugary drink tax implemented today damn, between that & Pennsylvania gas tax no wonder folk revolted pic.twitter.com/ZUtmufCyQn
— SalenaZito (@SalenaZito) January 2, 2017
While a 20-ounce bottle of soda increased by just 30 cents yesterday, a 12-pack of 12-ounce cans of soda increased $2.16. A gallon of Arnold Palmer iced tea and lemonade increased by $1.92 yesterday.
With the new tax, Philadelphia became the first major city in the United States to implement a tax on sugary drinks.
Proponents of the tax claim that the city will generate $91 million in city revenue, 80 percent of which will go toward support for universal early childhood education, parks and libraries.
@Crowesq@SalenaZito It's $.015 per oz. So this is on a 10pk of 20 oz bottles or the like. Nuts that it works to 50% on flavored water.
— wRONg BARKER (@WrongNowShutUp) January 2, 2017
Sugar is pretty awful and clearly needs to be controlled but this feels like an awful way to go about it @SalenaZito@DrRyanSkelton
— Piragon ♔ (@Mr_Touhou) January 2, 2017
Justin Boggs is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk.Follow him on Twitter @jjboggs or on Facebook.
