POLICY DATABASE
Policy Summary

Establishes an excise tax of $0.02 per fluid ounce on distributors of sugar-sweetened beverages. Revenues must be used to cover the costs for administering the tax. Any extra revenue is to be used to fund activities to improve health equity, especially for low income residents and those most affected by chronic disease linked to consuming sugary drinks.

Background Information

State Colorado
Jurisdiction Name Boulder
Jurisdiction Type City,
Population Size 50,000-200,000
Legal Strategies
  • Requires something, sets standards
  • Creates an incentive for a change
Reach Community-wide
Food System Category Distribute;

Policy Details

Refers to priority populations?
Yes

Revenues that aren't needed to cover administrative costs are to be "used for health promotion, general wellness programs and chronic disease prevention in the City of Boulder that improve health equity, such as access to safe and clean drinking water, healthy foods, nutrition and food education, physical activity, and other health programs especially for residents with low income and those most affected by chronic disease linked to sugary drink consumption." Sec. 3-16-11(a).

Emergency management?
No
Health-related linkage?
Yes

Childhood obesity, Type Two diabetes, cardiovascular disease. Sec 3-16-1.

Environmental linkage?
No

Economic linkage?
No

Includes findings?
Yes

Findings state: "consuming one sugar-sweetened beverage a day increases the risk for childhood obesity by 55%,…. the risk of developing Type Two Diabetes by 25%, … the likelihood of death from cardiovascular disease by 30%." Sec. 3-16-1(b)-(d).

Has a stated intent or purpose?
Yes

"An excise tax on the distribution of sugar-sweetened beverages is intended to protect the health, safety and well-being of all in the City of Boulder." Sec. 3-16-1(a).

Includes definitions?
Yes

Sec. 3-16-4.

Addresses implementation?
Yes

The City Manager has the power to administer the law, and "annually verify that the taxes owed have been applied, exempted, collected, and remitted." Sec. 3-16-6.

Enforcement provisions?
Unclear

See sec. 3-16-9(b).

Evaluation component?
Unclear

The city shall track and record all revenues collected from the excise tax imposed by this chapter, all administrative costs and the distribution of the portion of the tax collected not used for administrative costs. The city council shall annually publish a public report on the city's website detailing the amount of revenue collected as a result of the tax and the type and amount of expenditures made as a result of the tax levied in this chapter. Sec. 3-16-11(b)

Requires extra investment?
No

Code context and ordinance history

Part of Title 3, Revenue and Taxation; Chapter 16, Sugar Sweetened Beverage Product Distribution Tax. History: Ordinance No. 8181 (June 6, 2017).

SHARE ONLINE:

TOP
Help us improve this site!

Help us improve this website by taking a quick two-minute survey.