Connecticut Governor Pushes Sugar Tax
The proposed levy would tack on 1.5 cents per ounce for sugar-sweetened drinks.
Feb 22, 2019
HARTFORD, Conn. – Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has unveiled his new budget agenda this week, and included in the proposal is a 1.5 cents per ounce tax for sugar-sweetened beverages, Politico reports. Such a tax would translate into an additional 18 cents for a 12-ounce soft drink can.
Other proposed taxes include a quarter deposit on wine and liquor bottle purchases, plus a 10-cent charge for plastic bags. The governor isn’t trying to only generate income—he’s attempting to change consumer behavior, according to Ryan Drajewicz, the governor’s chief of staff. The governor’s office estimated that these new taxes could bring in around $35 million annually.
“Similar taxes on sugary drinks in Philadelphia, Boulder and Seattle have failed to raise significant revenue and have hurt local business,” Chris Taylor, a Connecticut resident and COO of New York City-based Boylan Bottling Co., which makes craft sodas, told The Hill. “It's troubling that our governor and the Democrats in Hartford are willing to target one specific line of business rather than focusing on renegotiating bad deals with in-state unions.”
Last year, the California Legislature passed a ban that prohibits cities from approving new taxes on soda. Meanwhile, the California Medical Association and the California Dental Association are working on gathering enough support for a 2020 ballot initiative for the state to add a tax on sugared drinks.
