San Francisco Approves Sugary Beverage Tax for Ballot; City Economist Says Measure Could Improve Public Health

On Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 6-4 to place a measure on the November ballot that would implement a 2-cent-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks. A recently released report by the city's Chief Economist Ted Egan said that the tax would likely raise soda prices by 23% to 36% and would encourage residents to purchase less soda, which could improve public health.

• "Board Puts Soda Tax before San Francisco Voters" (AP/Sacramento Bee, 7/22).
• "S.F. Soda Tax Would Drop Consumption 31 Percent, Report Says" (Knight, San Francisco Chronicle, 7/22).