Posted on 02/18/25
| News Source: FOX45
Baltimore, MD - Feb. 18, 2025 - A newly proposed tax on sugary beverages is causing frustrations to pour in across the state.
“No more taxes, no, no!” exclaimed one Maryland resident.
“Taxes are already too high,” another said.
“We've seen significant increases in pediatric obesity. We've seen a lot of chronic health diseases, diabetes, cancers, they're all linked to these products,” said Delegate Emily Shetty, the bill’s author.
To help cut down on sugar consumption, Shetty has introduced the For Our Kids Act, also known as a soda tax. If passed, all sugary beverages such as soda, sports drinks, and energy drinks, will contain a 2-cents-per-ounce tax. That also includes syrups, powders, and artificially sweetened drinks, like Diet Coke.
“By increasing the tax, it will give an opportunity for a point of inflection at the grocery aisle, for a consumer to say, is this something that I really need this week, or is it a treat that I want to get for my family?” Shetty explained.
Shoppers we spoke with said they agree with the end goal but question the approach.
“We pay so many taxes in Maryland as it is, you know. I understand the thought behind it, but boo,” one person said while giving the measure two thumbs down.
“That means it would be an extra 32 cents for a regular bottle of soda,” another shopper said. “Seems a little over the top.”
“I think it's a rip off,” another said.
Concerns echoed by Republican Delegate Kathy Szeliga, who is calling the proposal “a tax disguised as a health initiative.” In a statement, Szeliga wrote, “If the new tax were used to lower everyone's sales tax, that would be a step I could support.”
When asked if the measure was designed with healthier habits or the state’s budget shortfall in mind, Shetty replied, “It is a public health bill. The fact that it also could bring in some revenue for incredibly important investments in school meal access as well as childcare scholarships that can help boost our economy is an added benefit, but it is not the sole purpose of the effort.”
According to Shetty, the tax is expected to generate up to $500 million annually. The first $150 million would go towards free school meals, the next $50 million towards childcare subsidies, and the rest will go into the general fund, helping curb the current $3 billion-dollar deficit.
Meanwhile, the proposed fees don’t stop there. Once you’re done with that sugary drink, lawmakers are also introducing the Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program, also known as a bottle bill. If passed, an additional 10 to 15 cent charge would be tacked on all glass, plastic, and metal beverage containers. Those who recycle their containers will get a refund, but those who don’t, “It's another fee for more money coming out of your pocket,” one shopper said.
“They're just piling other taxes on top of other taxes on top of other taxes,” another added.
To get their money back, consumers can return the empty bottles to a store, reverse vending machine or drop-off point. According to the Container Recycling Institute, Marylanders buy 5.5 billion bottles each year, but only a quarter of the containers get recycled. Proponents say the legislation aims to reduce littering and encourage recycling.
Back to the soda tax, a public hearing on the measure is scheduled to take place next month.