The soda industry says it will fight to repeal the tax on sweetened beverages voted in by the Philadelphia City Council this week.
"The tax passed [in Philadelphia] is a regressive tax that unfairly singles out beverages—including low- and no-calorie choices. But most importantly, it is against the law," reads a statement from the American Beverage Association.
The group says it will take legal action to stop the tax. "Similar tax proposals have been rejected 43 times across the country in the past eight years," the ABA says. And the industry points to polling data that suggest the majority of Philadelphia residents don't support it.
But supporters of the tax on sweetened drinks say the victory in Philadelphia could set the stage for similar actions in cities across the country.
Source: www.npr.org