Middletown Residents: Tax on Soda and Sweets May Be on the Way

By Rich Scinto (Patch Staff)

A New Haven state representative has proposed a bill that would add a tax to sugary drinks and candy as a way to combat health issues, especially among minority communities.

State Rep. Juan Candelaria’s bill would impose a one cent tax per ounce on soft drinks and candies high in calories and sugar.

Taxes raised would be used to address childhood obesity through prevention efforts, fund municipalities and contribute to the Governor’s Scholarship program, according to the text of the bill.

The bill was introduced on Jan. 16 and was referred to the Joint Committee on Children. As it stands the specifics of the bill haven’t been ironed out.

• What do you think about the possible tax? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Candelaria told the New Haven Independent that he got the idea at the National Council of Hispanic State Legislators. He said there was an “epidemic” in minority communities when it came to consumption of sugary drinks and candies.

Obesity rates among children differ with race. The Hispanic rate for obesity in 2011-2012 was 22.4 percent, non-Hispanic black youth was 20.2 percent and non-Hispanic white youth had an obesity rate of 14.1 percent.

About 35 percent of all U.S. adults are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Non-Hispanic blacks have the highest age-adjusted obesity rate at 47.8 percent and Hispanics follow second at 42.5 percent. Non-Hispanic whites are at 32.6 percent and non-Hispanic Asians are at 10.8 percent.

Somewhat similar tax measures have been passed in other parts of the country. There is a one cent per ounce tax on soft drinks in Berkeley, Calif., which was passed in November 2014, according to USA Today.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-New Haven) proposed the SWEET Act that would put a one-cent tax per teaspoon of caloric sweetener, which would include things like sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.

Sugary taxes aren’t so sweet for soft drink manufacturers. Already Coca-Cola saw a 14 percent decline in third quarter earnings profits last year, according to Forbes.com.

Coca-Cola recently became a partner in a new venture; the milk business. The company teamed up with Fair Oaks Farms on its Fairlife milk, a milk that has more protein, more calcium and less sugar than ordinary milk, according to NPR.

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Photo by amayzun, via flickr creative commons