Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax Introduced in California

Proposed legislation (S.B. 622) in California would impose a 1-cent per fluid ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages to finance a Children’s Health Promotion Fund. Introduced by Sen. Bill Monning (D-Carmel), the measure would apply to all sugar-sweetened beverage distributors whether their products are bottled or sold as concentrate.

Intended to “discourage the excessive consumption of sweetened beverages by increasing the price of these products,” the proposal would also create a fund “allocated for the purposes of statewide childhood obesity prevention activities and programs.” To this end, the Children’s Health Promotion Fund would support, among other things, state- and community-based efforts to reduce consumption of “calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods” and improve access to “healthy, safe, and affordable foods and beverages.”

“This bill will combat the obesity crisis and ensure that our children—and future generations of Californians—are not doomed to a shorter life expectancy and can instead live longer, healthier lives,” Monning was quoted as saying. Details about Monning’s previous attempt to pass a sugar-sweetened beverage tax appear in Issue 392 of this Update. See Los Angeles Times, February 26, 2013.