The city of Seattle had a new soda tax kick in on January 1st, and it’s quite a doozy:
Promoting health at a hefty price: Seattle’s soda tax starts Jan. 1 (Story by @DBeekman) https://t.co/NClYmO7AFZ pic.twitter.com/XJvaRuwwQ5
— The Seattle Times (@seattletimes) December 31, 2017
City officials are trying to dispel reports like the one above indicating the tax will actually increase the price of certain drinks. Why? Because they don’t intend for that to be the case:
"The tax is collected on the final distribution of sweetened beverages by a distributor. The tax is not collected by the retailer nor is the tax burden intended to fall onto the consumer."
–Seattle's response to complaints about the sudden increase in prices for sugary drinks— Joe Bishop-Henchman ???⚖️ (@jbhenchman) January 5, 2018
Wait, are they serious?
Holy crap.
These people hope everyone is stupid. https://t.co/Xew8QX8BPD
— RBe (@RBPundit) January 5, 2018
Look, I just pulled this trigger. What some bullet did way over on the other side of the room is none of my business. https://t.co/KHEm9ySRVV
— Julian Sanchez (@normative) January 5, 2018
ProgEnomics strike again!
https://twitter.com/joedah87/status/949437037215715328
Economics doesn't care who you intended to pay the tax. This is, quite literally, taught in Econ101 classes. Way to go, Seattle. #economics https://t.co/esvxyZLTdd
— Chris Pippin (@ChrisPippin) January 5, 2018
Proof citizens in #Seattle elected mOrons who have no idea how business works… Consumers ALWAYS pay for increased taxes regardless of when government collects the tax. Perfect example of #LeftCoastDumbasses https://t.co/ta40trB48o
— Kevets429 (@Kevets429) January 6, 2018
The #NannyState #Seattle #SugarTax “The tax is not collected by the retailer nor is the tax burden intended to fall onto the consumer” Who the hell do they expect to pay the tax?
— SCV Tech (@lahanlon) January 6, 2018
Tax incidence, how does it work? https://t.co/NtHCi3CnW8
— Jeremy Horpedahl ?? (@jmhorp) January 5, 2018
Seattle is apparently led by ridiculous people.
— Beth Anne Mumford (@bamumford) January 6, 2018
“We are not responsible for the unintended consequences of, or our inability to anticipate patently obvious implications of, our well-intentioned but economically illiterate decisions.” Seattle.
— Paul B. Kelly (@ImInSTL) January 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/RobKovacev/status/949307470144507904
The people you guys in Seattle elect aren't very bright. https://t.co/OZw4iPVHbj
— Anti-Smatter (@mdrache) January 6, 2018
I wonder where they think the retailers and the distributors get their money, if not from consumers?
— Angela Beegle (aka chotii) (@chotiari) January 6, 2018
That last tweet probably could have ended at “think.”
Update: Nah, the tax won’t be passed along to the customer at all! *Eye roll*:
ARE YOU KIDDING?!?! Check out these prices at Costco now that the Soda and #SugarTax has taken affect in the Seattle area. 1.75 cents per fluid ounce. Pics @DevinSenaUI & @HaydenBedsole pic.twitter.com/RcsPY4e8L4
— Tim Williams (@realtimwilliams) January 6, 2018