OLYMPIA, Wash. — A proposed sweetened beverage tax got a hearing yesterday in Olympia.
The Health and Long Term Care committee heard arguments on the bill yesterday.
Senate bill 5371 would tax “sweetened beverages,” which include all beverages commonly referred to as soda, pop, cola, soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit drinks, sweetened ice teas and coffees, and 40 other products with added caloric sweeteners.
The bill would use taxes collected to fund health services and so-called health equity initiatives.
The American Heart Association supported the potential of the tax to reduce consumption of sweetened beverages.
Republican Senator Ann Rivers said the tax would hurt consumers, commenting that it seems to be very regressive because people order a frothy, sweet drink at Starbucks and not pay the tax.
Bill authors note the Seattle “soda” tax of $1.18 on a two liter bottle has caused a 22% drop in sales and resulted in an additional $24 million in taxes in that city alone.