Depends on location. In parts of the US like Philadelphia and DC diet sodas absolutely are included in the tax. Meanwhile in Seattle Starbucks beverages were specifically excluded as not being “sugary” because they include milk which makes them “healthy” thanks to a lot of lobbying. I don’t know of any European taxes that function the same way but it has certainly tainted the concept since, like everything, shitty lawmaking ruined the entire point in actual execution.
Yeah where I was living in Seattle diet sodas were exempt from the tax. I do recall that Starbucks thing but that’s a whole other issue.
I live in an EU country now and apparently they’re gonna be rolling out sugary drink taxes soon and I’m not yet clear on whether diet sodas are included but I haven’t looked into it closely yet.
I was living in the Seattle area when they implemented theirs and that is when I looked into the taxes and found out about Philly including diet soda. I can’t find a source now with quick googling but the reason I came across back then was that statistically white middle class consumers drink more diet soda so zero calorie drinks were included in the “sugary” tax to promote equity… while completely destroying the health push that was the very reason for the tax.
Meanwhile diet or not I just wish I could get Mezzo Mix at my local store.
Depends on location. In parts of the US like Philadelphia and DC diet sodas absolutely are included in the tax. Meanwhile in Seattle Starbucks beverages were specifically excluded as not being “sugary” because they include milk which makes them “healthy” thanks to a lot of lobbying. I don’t know of any European taxes that function the same way but it has certainly tainted the concept since, like everything, shitty lawmaking ruined the entire point in actual execution.
Yeah where I was living in Seattle diet sodas were exempt from the tax. I do recall that Starbucks thing but that’s a whole other issue.
I live in an EU country now and apparently they’re gonna be rolling out sugary drink taxes soon and I’m not yet clear on whether diet sodas are included but I haven’t looked into it closely yet.
I wonder if they will do that with wine as well.
I was living in the Seattle area when they implemented theirs and that is when I looked into the taxes and found out about Philly including diet soda. I can’t find a source now with quick googling but the reason I came across back then was that statistically white middle class consumers drink more diet soda so zero calorie drinks were included in the “sugary” tax to promote equity… while completely destroying the health push that was the very reason for the tax.
Meanwhile diet or not I just wish I could get Mezzo Mix at my local store.
That logic is insanely frustrating. You see it in policy all the time and it drives me crazy.
This is why we can’t have nice things…