Cook County Crushes Beverage Tax

A beverage tax lasted just two months in Cook County before commissioners voted to repeal it, due to a massive public outcry.

A hefty beverage tax passed by Cook County Commissioners to fill a budget gap barely survived two months due to significant opposition from working people, families and small local businesses. While in place, the tax caused prices to skyrocket on more than 1,000 everyday beverages. The prices sent people to stores across county lines. As a result, beverage sales in Cook County decreased to nearly 50 percent at some retailers and restaurants.

Faced with the uprising of their constituents, Cook County Commissioners voted to reverse course and get rid of the tax. “I’ve never heard so much animosity to a tax than this…People were telling me they’d go to Indiana to buy soda, and they weren’t just buying their sodas there, but all their other groceries, too.” – Commissioner John Daley.

Cook County shows how unpopular these taxes are and what citizens can do about them when they set their minds to it.

The commissioners “can blame themselves for infuriating their constituents with this dishonest money grab, then disregarding that righteous anger.”

– Chicago Tribune editorial board
Cook County NEWS
Apr 11, 2019

Soda taxes aren’t just annoying, they don’t curb obesity

Following the repeal of Cook County’s soda tax in 2017 — the deep and Read More

Nov 7, 2018

COKE COUNTY: TOWNSHIPS OVERWHELMINGLY REJECT BRINGING BACK SODA TAX

Voters across seven Cook County townships strongly oppose a return of the Read More

Jan 17, 2018

Did Cook County’s failed soda tax cause sales taxes to fizzle, too?

Cook County’s short-lived penny-per-ounce tax on sweetened beverages not Read More

Dec 1, 2017

Cook County Residents, Businesses and Commissioners Toast the End of the County’s Beverage Tax

Cook County residents, businesses and County Commissioners toasted the end of Read More