Santa Cruz continues with a soda tax as opposed to state legislation

Last week, the Northern California Beach City in Santa Cruz introduced a tax on carbonated gas, ice teas and other added sugar beverages. Voters approved the 2 cents per ounce in November, although the drink industry is poured at least $ 1.2 million in oppositionS

In addition to generating approximately $ 1.3 million for the city, the tax aims to limit the over -consumption of sugary drinks, Which study has shown that it worksS Drinking too many sweet drinks can lead to heart disease and type 2 diabetes, said Blit Young, a lobbyist of the American Cardiac Association, a key tax supporter.

• Young: “The average American consumes a bath full of sugar from sugar a year or 30 gallons.”

But the tax also exists as opposed to state legislation – something like.

To archive: In 2018 California legislators mediate a deal With the beverages industry for a preventive ban on local authorities from applying local grocery taxes by 2030.

This law included a provision requiring the state to withhold local sales tax revenue from each city, imposing its own new tax on grocery, even if the court determines that the tax. “is a valid exercise of the city’s bodyS “

City cities – which according to the California Constitution are provides more flexibility From some state laws – he took this part personally. Especially Santa Cruz, at that time, to put a soda tax proposal to voters, which he then had to scrap.

But in 2023 the State Court of Appeal ruled that the part of revenue from deducting revenue from The law was unconstitutionalGiving to Santa Cruz City Council the green light to move forward with soda. So, the law against cities adopting its own tax on its nutritional data is still in force, but the law has no teeth (perhaps suitable for a law that effectively protects sugar consumption).

In a statement to CalMatters, the American Beverage Association said it evaluated the next steps, declared Santa Cruz’s tax as an illegal and “unfair burden for working families fighting record high prices”.

The legal dispute would serve as another case of a city trying to carve more autonomy. The cities recently fought to introduce their own Housing policies., Select rules and bans on booksS But instead of hitting the state (or the federal government Sometimes) Santa Cruz will face the multiangrad industry.

• Shebreh kalantari-johnsonSanta Cruz’s Deputy Mayor: “We are ready for this … It is not necessary to happen when people with money or special interests can dictate how a city, county or country makes decisions. It should not be.”