MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Seattle council approves controversial soda tax

Jun 5, 2017, 5:53 AM | Updated: 4:24 pm

soda tax, I-1634...

(AP file photo)

(AP file photo)

The Seattle City Council passed a soda tax Monday that will place a new fee on sugary beverages sold within the city.

“The scientific evidence is incontrovertible … sugar-sweetened beverage consumption leads to negative health outcomes,” said Councilmember Tim Burgess shortly before voting to pass the soda tax. “Communities of color and young people are disproportionately targeted by the beverage industry’s advertising and marketing campaigns. Black children and teens see twice as many ads for soda and other sweetened beverages compared to white children and other teens.”

RELATED: Seattle council removes diet drinks from soda tax

Burgess argued the sugary drinks are the leading source of excess calories and are linked to heart disease, dental disease and other chronic illnesses, disproportionately affecting minorities.

“Daily consumption of just one sugary drink increases a child’s chance of obesity by 55 percent and diabetes by 26 percent,” he said.

The new soda tax places a .0175 per ounce fee on sweetened beverages. The tax is initially paid for by distributors, but the cost will likely be passed along to the customer. The city estimates it will raise more than $23 million from the tax in 2018, which it intends to put toward reducing the academic achievement gap between white and minority students, as well as expand access to healthy food.

The council voted 7-1 in favor of the tax. Councilmember Lisa Herbold was the only member to vote against it. She said that she supports the effort, but did not like how the legislation was drafted, and disagreed with the drinks it targeted and excluded. Councilmember Sawant was absent.

Soda tax and Seattle

The council heard a range of public perspectives prior to passing the soda tax. Business owners objected to the proposal, arguing that the tax would negatively impact their stores.

“From the last four to five years, something new is coming every single time and it’s cutting our bottom line,” said a representative from the Greater Seattle Franchise Owner Association. “Not only is it cutting our bottom line, we are decreasing our payroll, letting people go. We are giving part-time jobs right now, not full time. Sooner or later, we will have to stay in our stores 24 hours.”

“Think before you do anymore taxes on us or our customers,” he said.

Others criticized the city for only targeting sugary drinks that are more often purchased by lower-income and minority residents. Yet products more often purchased by wealthier residents were excluded from the tax.

“It is regressive and it hurts working people and the poor the most and it will result in the loss of jobs,” said Pete Lamb with Teamsters Local 174.

“We absolutely oppose the exception on hand-crafted beverages. It is elitist and it absolutely undermines the credibility of this proposal in the first place,” he added.

The amendment aimed at exempting hand crafted beverages did not gain approval from the council before the tax passed.

MyNorthwest News

Spanaway woman shot dead...

Kate Stone

Search for shooter continues after woman shot dead while driving in Spanaway

A 47-year-old woman was shot dead in Spanaway, causing her to hit another driver head-on early Wednesday morning.

43 minutes ago

nintendo redmond...

Frank Sumrall

Nintendo to lay off 86 Redmond employees this spring

Nintendo of America is laying off 86 contract workers in Redmond, beginning May 25, due to company reorganization.

1 hour ago

Everett boy missing...

Frank Sumrall

4-year-old Everett boy missing, police worried he’s in danger

Police and Search and Rescue crews are looking for a missing four-year-old boy they suspect could be in danger.

3 hours ago

Image: The awnings of a store advertise the sale of lottery tickets, including Mega Millions and Po...

Steve Coogan

Lottery jackpots update: Powerball prize jumps again after $1.1B Mega Millions win

A lottery jackpots update: The Powerball prize reached an estimated $935 million ahead of Saturday night's drawing.

12 hours ago

Photo: The Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center....

James Lynch

King County’s plan to close youth detention center met with fierce backlash

The King County Law and Justice Committee received a final report on Executive Dow Constantine's plan to close a youth detention center.

14 hours ago

Image: A cargo ship is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after ...

Associated Press

Authorities identify 2 bodies recovered at site of Baltimore bridge collapse

A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

16 hours ago

Seattle council approves controversial soda tax