Chicago had a soda tax which was quickly overturned.

It's not the Government's responsibility to maintain the people's health. Monetary punishment solves nothing. Buy Bitcoin or Nano!

The People's Republic of Boulder, CO passed it's own soda tax about the same time, only for a greater 2 cents per ounce. It didn't include diet drinks but did include any drink with high sugar content including juices. Bloomberg was a big funder of the campaign. Sometimes the tax is greater than the price of the soda. The tax has returned more money than expected, largely because the affluent residents of Boulder can afford it. There hasn't been a great reduction in consumption.

Anyone surprised by this outcome?

Democrats just do not get it - stop trying to force your dictating liberal beliefs on the people! Power to the People! Down with the Liberals and Socialists!

So, the poor pay to subsidize the price of corn syrup (or pay the tariff on cane sugar), in addition to having to pay a tax on soda. And corn syrup is much worse for human health than cane sugar. Suppose they did buy fewer sugary drinks: how would that have raised revenue? If this was a "sin" tax does that mean earning income is a sin? All taxes are sinful, of course, because taxation is theft. We should only pay fees for the services we want to get, and not be forced to pay taxes for earning income (taxation of earning income is a form of slavery--your labor belongs to the Man). ...See more

Great idea! It screwed the poor, cost many people their jobs and had no overall impact. Your government at work!

Democrats don't care if their voters are healthy. They jst want the money! In this case everybody loses. I have NO sympathy for these ""Poor"" people, they elected the Democrats!

So are "sports drinks" such as Gatorade on the banned list? They are nothing but sugar water after all is said and done.

Just another reminder that sales taxes are regressive making them the choice of politicians because lower income people have the least political clout. I did not notice whether the city taxed high sugar coffee drinks. Or was that forgotten when writing the legislation?