Washingtonians Against the Beverage Tax

We need your help to stop a proposed excise tax on soft drinks!

Take Action! Email your elected official today!

Raising costs on the hard-working people of Washington is not the way to solve the state’s budget problem.  Governor Gregoire is offering yet another version of an excise tax on carbonated beverages.  This 2 cent-per 12 ounces version of an excise tax on soft drinks won’t solve the state’s revenue shortfall, and adding to grocery bills with a new beverage tax – in this economy – is not the answer. 

An excise tax on soft drinks would depress sales, cost people their jobs and force local bottlers out of business. That’s because bottlers already operate on a razor-thin margins within a highly competitive, price-sensitive marketplace.

We’re not talking about consumers paying just a “couple pennies” more for a soft drink. This is close to a $40 million hit for an industry already struggling with poor sales due to the economy.

Any excise tax on carbonated beverages would be devastating to the industry, suppliers, retailers and consumers. It makes no sense to put even more local jobs at risk during this recession and high unemployment rates. 

Throwing people out of work is no way to support an economic recovery.