Big Soda’s Spending Spree to Fight Public Health Measures
Closing in on $100 MillionSince 2009 when policymakers began seriously considering soda taxes at the federal, state and local levels, Big Soda has written blank checks to oppose them, as well as other public health measures such as warning labels.
No Limit to the Spending to Fight Soda Taxes in 2016Big Soda’s spending to oppose communities’ efforts to protect their health has gone off the charts in 2016, reaching $39 million. With a week to go before voters speak on November 8 in Albany, Oakland and San Francisco in California and in Boulder, Colorado, Big Soda is trying to drown out the communities’ voices with misleading mailers and advertising. Having already lost in the Philadelphia City Council, the industry is now challenging that city’s sugar-drink tax in court. Here’s how industry has spent its money.
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The American Beverage Association, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo—Big Soda’s Big Three—have been writing blank checks for years to oppose soda taxes and other public health measures, like warning labels, across the country. In 2016, that spending has exploded exponentially.
UPDATED TOPLINE TOTAL FOR 2009-2016 (OPPONENTS OF SODA TAXES)
$94,935,999
Soda excise tax of one cent per ounce at the distributor level
San Francisco
CA
PROPOSITION V
$20,472,179
$7,470,184
SODA TAX SUPPORTERS'EXPENDITURES 2016
SODA TAX OPPONENTS' EXPENDITURES 2016
$6,165,032
$6,826,691
SODA TAX SUPPORTERS'EXPENDITURES 2016
SODA TAX OPPONENTS' EXPENDITURES 2016
$193,388
$5,023
SODA TAX SUPPORTERS'EXPENDITURES 2016
SODA TAX OPPONENTS' EXPENDITURES 2016
Albany
CA
Soda excise tax of one cent per ounce at the distributor level
MEASURE O1
Philadelphia
PA
$11,189,370
$2,520,163
SODA TAX SUPPORTERS'EXPENDITURES 2016
SODA TAX OPPONENTS' EXPENDITURES 2016
Already passed but ongoing lawsuit will be costly
BILL NO. 1601760
Oakland
CA
Soda excise tax of one cent per ounce at the distributor level
MEASURE HH
$278,378
$747,685
SODA TAX SUPPORTERS'EXPENDITURES 2016
SODA TAX OPPONENTS' EXPENDITURES 2016
Boulder
CO
Soda excise tax of two cents per ounce at the distributor level
MEASURE 2H
Breakdown of expenditures for tax opponents.
$1,698,016mailers
TAX
San Francisco, CA
$14,117,769paid advertising
TAXTAXTAX
TV$11,934,188
RADIO$33,500
DIGITAL$1,696,128
PRINT$453,953
TAX
TAX
$695,543mailers
TAX
Oakland, CA
$2,960,036paid advertising
TAXTAXTAX
TV$1,942,609
DIGITAL$855,463
PRINT$161,964
TAX
TAX
$4,200mailers
TAX
Albany, CA
$57,469paid advertising
TAXTAX
TV$48,069
DIGITAL$9,400
TAX
TAX
$10,890,461radio, tv, & print ads
Philadelphia, PA
$296,682direct lobbying of city officials
TAX
TAXTAX
TAX
$71,712mailers
TAX
Boulder, CO
$67,515paid advertising
TAXTAXTAX
TV$30,000
DIGITAL$13,559
PRINT$23,956
TAX
TAX
TAX