Tag: tax
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Australian Public Health Coalition Advocates National Tax on SSBs
Calling Berkeley, California, voters’ recent passage of a 1-cent-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) a “victory for the health of Americans,” Australia’s Rethink Sugary Drink Campaign is urging state and local governments to enact comparable measures. The initiative is a partnership among the groups Cancer Council Australia, Diabetes Australia and Heart Foundation (Victoria). “Australia is among…
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First Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Passed in Berkeley, California
Voters in Berkeley, California, have passed a 1-cent per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and the added-calorie sweeteners used to make them. Revised by court order to reference “sugar-sweetened beverages” as opposed to “high-calorie, sugary drinks,” the ballot measure garnered 75 percent approval to make Berkeley the first city in the nation to adopt a soda…
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Proposed Berkeley Soda Tax Language Changed
A California state court has adjusted the language in the soft drink tax on the November 2014 ballot by replacing “high-calorie, sugary drink” with “sugar-sweetened beverages” to clarify the proposed tax and to conform with election codes. Johnson v. Numainville, No. RG14786763 (Cal. Super. Ct., Alameda Cty., order entered September 2, 2014). Agreeing with the…
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Berkeley Residents Accuse Soda Tax of Bias in Lawsuit
Two residents of Berkeley, California, have filed a lawsuit in state court alleging that the proposed 1-cent-per-ounce soda tax, which will appear on the ballot in November, uses “politically charged” language and affects beverages beyond the targeted “high-calorie, sugary drinks.” Johnson v. Numainville, No. RG14786763 (Cal. Super. Ct., Alameda Cty., filed August 13, 2014). The…
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House Lawmaker Introduces National Soft Drink Tax
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) has reportedly introduced legislation (H.R. 5279) seeking to implement a nationwide sugar-sweetened beverage tax. Dubbed the SWEET Act, the measure “would institute a tax of 1 cent per teaspoon of caloric sweetener such as sugar or high-fructose corn syrup,” according to a July 30, 2014, press release. Revenue raised by…
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California Cities to Vote on Soft Drink Tax
Citizens of San Francisco and Berkeley will be voting on the implementation of a soda tax in the November 2014 elections. Similar taxes have failed to garner sufficient support in the past five years, with about 30 propositions introduced and none passed, including two that went to ballot and were defeated in California in 2012.…
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Putative Class Action Filed Against Papa John’s for Charging Sales Tax on Delivery Fee
A Papa John’s customer has filed a putative class action against the pizza company in Illinois state court, alleging that the chain illegally charges sales tax on delivery fees, resulting in each delivery customer overpaying by $0.16. Zucker v. Papa John’s Int’l, Inc, No. 14-668 (Madison Cty. Ct., filed May 5, 2014). Zachary Tucker argues that…
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French Senate Report Calls for Junk-Food Tax
A French Senate committee has issued a report, “Taxation and Public Health: Evaluation of Behavioral Taxation,” urging lawmakers to implement a “behavioral tax” to counteract poor dietary habits and help cover health care expenditures associated with consumption of “unhealthy” foods. While emphasizing the need for a sugar-sweetened beverage tax, the report also advocates harmonizing tax…