San Francisco Supervisors Issue Second Proposal for SSB Tax

San Francisco Supervisor Eric Mar has reportedly unveiled a proposal for a tax
on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) similar to one released in late October by
Supervisor Scott Weiner. Both proposals target SSB distributors, both impose a
2-cents-per-ounce tax and both reportedly expect to raise $30 million annually
to fund health and nutrition programs to combat diabetes and other health
issues allegedly associated with consumption of soft drinks, energy drinks and
other SSBs. According to a news source, Weiner and two other supervisors
are co-sponsoring Mar’s legislation, but Mar said all four supervisors will work
together to combine both proposals into one piece of legislation that they plan
to put before voters in November 2014. See SFGate.com, November 22, 2013.