Philadelphia’s tax on soda and other sweetened beverages has been in effect for nearly a year. As city officials, business owners, and beverage industry lobbyists continue to debate the controversial, 1.5 cent-per-ounce tax – and other cities watch closely – researchers have scrambled to study its impact.
All agree sales of soda and other taxable beverages have decreased under the tax, and prices have risen. But has the tax had a negative impact on businesses’ bottom lines? The answer to that question, it turns out, depends on which study you consult, and maybe even who paid for it.