“The aggregate effect of the model suggested that prices of sugary drinks went up about 33 percent in cities with sugary drink taxes, and consumption fell about 33 percent. “So fairly solid evidence using sales data that purchases of sugar sweetened beverages have fallen in a sustained fashion,” Schillinger said.”

This whole argument is intellectually lazy. My purchases of soda in SF have gone way down — because I always buy on shopping trips at the Serramonte Center. My consumption has not changed at all. And to the folks above who think I’m wasting gas? I never make a special trip — I drive by a Target or Costco on the peninsula every couple days regardless.

In reply to handy andy.

Your brilliant move that has you spending gas and time to save 12 cents on a can of soda is also offset by going to a town with a sales tax that’s a full 1.25% higher.

Sure, that’s less than the soda tax, and most foods are not taxed. But I’d be willing to bet you’re arguing over pennies by the time you’re home.

In reply to handy andy.

And you pay more for gas which cancels out the soda tax savings.

Soda tax opposition came from Jane Kim and the SF Tenants Union

it really costs a lot to buy a sweet soda drink in san francisco. that;s why we go to westlake shopping center to san mateo country and patronize the safeway, free from this soda tax. its a rip off and poor people get stuck paying it.