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Supervisors hear evidence and heated public comment as San Francisco considers 2¢‑per‑ounce soda tax
Summary
Supervisors held an extensive hearing on a proposed 2¢‑per‑ounce tax on sugar‑sweetened beverage distributors to fund school nutrition, public health and parks programs; health officials, the school district and recreation leaders urged passage while small‑business owners and beverage industry representatives warned of regressivity and administrative burden.
The Board of Supervisors’ Budget & Finance Committee held a broadly attended hearing on a proposed sugar‑sweetened beverage tax that, if approved by voters, would place a 2¢‑per‑ounce assessment on distributors and is projected by sponsors to yield about $30–31 million annually for schools, public health and recreation.
Supervisor Mark Maher, sponsor of the measure, framed it as a public‑health and equity action to reduce sugary‑drink consumption in low‑income neighborhoods and generate funds for nutrition, physical education and park programs. "This is a 2 pennies per ounce assessment on distributors," Maher said while describing research from UCSF and Yale that he said supports a 20–25% reduction in consumption.
Co‑sponsor Supervisor Scott Wiener emphasized the health rationale: high sugary‑drink consumption contributes to rising rates of type‑2 diabetes and other chronic conditions in San Francisco. He…
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