News Releases & Statements

American Beverage Association Responds to Philadelphia Mayor's Proposal to Tax Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

March 4, 2010

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
ABA Press Office
(202)463-6770

AMERICAN BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION RESPONDS TO PHILADELPHIA MAYOR'S PROPOSAL TO TAX SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES

In response to Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter's introduction of the city budget today, Susan K. Neely, president and CEO of the American Beverage Association, said:

"Mayor Nutter is seeking to solve the city's spending problems by further burdening hard-working Philadelphians with new taxes on their groceries, including juice drinks and soda. The reported 2-cents per ounce tax would add an additional $2.88 to the cost of a 12-pack of non-alcoholic beverages, like soft drinks.

At a time when Philadelphians are struggling through a tough economy with double-digit unemployment rates, this tax will threaten 2,000 well-paying beverage industry jobs in the Philadelphia area. And its impact will reach beyond the beverage aisle, hurting Philadelphia grocers by driving sales outside the city limits.

Families are still barely making it from paycheck to paycheck. They are tired of paying more taxes. Adding to their burden with a tax on their groceries should be the last way to tackle the city's budget problems."

###

The American Beverage Association is the trade association representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute non-alcoholic beverages in the United States. For more information on ABA, please visit the association's Web site at www.ameribev.org or call the ABA communications team at (202) 463-6770.