Beverage Industry Challenges Santa Cruz Sugary Drink Tax in Court

The American Beverage Association, alongside its allies, has initiated a legal challenge against the city of Santa Cruz over its newly implemented sugary drink tax, a measure approved by voters in November 2024 and effective since May 1. This tax, amounting to two cents per fluid ounce on sugary beverages, is at the heart of a contentious battle between public health advocates and the beverage industry. Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, criticizes the industry's opposition as prioritizing profits over health, highlighting a secret deal in 2018 that temporarily halted such taxes in California. The American Heart Association remains committed to reducing sugary drink consumption to combat heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes, framing the lawsuit as an industry tactic to undermine public health initiatives.

This legal action underscores a broader conflict between health advocacy groups and the beverage industry over the role of sugary drinks in public health crises. The American Heart Association, with its century-long dedication to health equity and disease prevention, stands firm in its support for the Santa Cruz tax as a vital tool for community health improvement and disease prevention, urging the beverage industry to cease its opposition and costly litigation.