Philly’s Soda Tax Remains Divisive

Working-class voters in the city oppose the five-year-old tax, and more affluent voters support it, according to a February poll of registered Democrats across the city.

Opposition is strongest among voters with a high school diploma or less education, with nearly three to one in that group opposing the tax. Voters whose households earn less than $40,000 per year also registered strong opposition, by a margin of 57% to 35%, as did Black respondents, 54% to 38%.

Overall, slightly more Democrats (nearly 50%) oppose the tax than support it.

Philadelphia became the largest city in the United States to implement a tax on soda and other sweetened beverages in 2017. Although City Council voted 13-4 in favor, polls conducted in 2016 showed varying levels of voter support. This latest poll shows support varies significantly depending on voters’ income and education levels.

The tax generated $70 million for the City in fiscal 2021, or about 1.25% of the municipal budget. About half of that revenue was allocated to fund the City’s pre-K initiative; most of the rest was spread across the general fund (according to the City Controller’s Office).

Voters in the North, Northeast and West regions of Philadelphia strongly oppose the tax, Voters in the more affluent Northwest, South and Center City areas are more likely to support it.