Opinion: The soda tax is an unfair tax on the poor
Philadelphia’s beverage tax has hit our city’s poorest communities hardest.
The city’s 1.5 cents per ounce tax has raised prices on thousands of beverages – from teas to sports drinks to juices, and nutritional beverages.
Yet while middle class shoppers have been able to drive to stores in nearby suburban counties, our lower income residents, many without cars, have been forced to pay more because they can’t avoid the tax or due to increased transportation costs of getting to stores outside the city.