Seattle’s ‘Sugar Tax’ Is Skyrocketing The Price Of Beverages At Costco

This is what left-wing policies do. They destroy business and limit your purchasing power. That’s why you couldn’t PAY me to live in a liberal city like Seattle. Actually, you’d HAVE to pay me, because I wouldn’t be able to afford it otherwise. (Even if you did pay me, I wouldn’t move there.) Here’s another reason why liberal cities like Seattle SUCK.

Seattle has implemented a sugar tax, which kicked in January 1st. City leaders hope it will deter people from making unhealthy choices. They plan to take the extra revenue to expand a program which will supposedly help lower income families buy healthier foods. Business owners are devastated, because now they need to jack up the prices of their products.

Distributors will pay $.0175 per fluid ounce.

That’s a cost that will likely get passed onto you — the consumer. It means a 12-ounce can of Coke would cost 21 cents more. A liter will cost about 60 cents more.

A whole case of soda is an extra $2.52.

Liberals always like to pretend that these policies don’t hurt consumers, but they do. The cost is always passed on the consumer.

Case in point.

Now that the tax is in full gear, a $15.99 pack of Gatorade at Costco now costs an additional $10.34.

Holy sugary drink tax! Finally saw this w/ my own eyes. $10.34 of tax on a pack of Gatorade @Costco in #Seattle. 💸

Costco also reminding you hey – no tax on this outside the city. Thoughts?? @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/xN2C4Csoe7

— Deedee Sun (@DeedeeKIRO7) January 5, 2018

Unbelievable, yet believable.

Loading up in soda? #Seattle city #sodatax is in effect. Look at what Costco wants you to know…#where can you get it without paying the tax #komonews pic.twitter.com/ZSd8V2FWeY

— Suzanne Phan (@SuzannePhan) January 5, 2018

“I gotta say, I like Costco’s approach to this,” KIRO Radio’s Mike Lewis said. “People should know. And they should know and they should be able to make an educated decision.”

Many Seattle residents are upset about the tax. Some don’t want to pay more for soda and other drinks. Others think the tax is regressive, meaning it disproportionately affects low-income families. And still others question why the tax leaves out sugar-heavy beverages like many of those sold at Starbucks.

“Make it consistent. Apply it to every sugary drink. Apply it to fast food,” Lewis said. “If you want to actually start talking about health effects, let’s actually have a conversation about that. Let’s not go to what’s the most convenient thing and attack that.”

The price difference is more noticeable at places like Costco, because it’s a bulk store. But even if you don’t notice it, it’s affecting individual drinks as well. Good on Costco for alerting customers of these ridiculous price changes and giving them other options.

It would be interesting to do a follow up story in 6 months to see if people are paying the tax or are they going to stores outside of the city to get soda.

— Yvonne Lawrence (@YlawrenceYvonne) January 5, 2018

Lots of people say they appreciate how transparent/informative Costco is being on the issue.

— Suzanne Phan (@SuzannePhan) January 6, 2018

Can’t wait to see stores like Costco move out of Seattle.. it will happen, Detroit 2.0

— Toby (@t_fouch) January 5, 2018

You’d better believe we’ll go to Shoreline. Plus you don’t have to pay for your bags. Plus there is parking. Lots of ways to get around the idiots on Seattle’s city council.

— MKH (@mkh1951) January 5, 2018

$400,000 of the tax proceeds are slated to go to low income families for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables.

$1,600,000 will go to ADMINISTRATIVE COST$

RIDICULOUS!!!!!!

— Angie Johnson (@bro3ndog) January 5, 2018

Hi Angie, I asked the city about that. I’m told it’s a one time cost to hire people and expand the Fresh Bucks program. The following year, there will be a much smaller administrative cost.

— Deedee Sun (@DeedeeKIRO7) January 6, 2018

There’s no such thing as a “one time cost” when it comes to govt bureaucracy 🙄

— JP (@JPMGGA) January 8, 2018

Ain’t that the truth.

Obviously you didn’t watch what happened in Cook County, IL when they instituted a 1 cent tax per oz. Costcos in Cook saw a 34% drop in purchase of sugar drinks, those right over the border from Cook in Will county saw a 37% increase in sales of sugar drinks, so answer is yes

— David Lawlor (@Dave_Lawlor) January 6, 2018

Not if it’s 100% juice and doesn’t have added sugar!

— Deedee Sun (@DeedeeKIRO7) January 6, 2018

Oh well THANKS FOR THAT, Seattle.

It’s true and it’s absurd. What’s next, burgers & fries, ice cream, chocolate? #Soda #seattlecitycouncil

— Pamela (@PamelaCunio) January 6, 2018

Exactly. It’s a slippery slope.

This tax is forcing people to alter their behavior, which is exactly what proponents of the tax want. You being frustrated and having to buy something else is a SUCCESS in their eyes.

Liberals are always about altering your behavior. This is about controlling you for the “greater good.”

“It changed norms. It saved lives,” Seattle City Councilwoman Teresa Mosqueda stated.

That’s what liberals continually tell themselves.

I like Costco’s move toward price transparency.

Taxes have long been a way for govts to raise revenues and provide incentives to alter behavior. That said, I find Seattle’s tax abhorrent.

— The Green Chain (@Timberati) January 7, 2018

As do I.

Liberal ideas in action are the worst.