Big Soda Spending Big Money to Oppose Oakland's Soda Tax

As of August 10th, campaign finance records indicate that Big Soda has spent between $600-750k to oppose Oakland's soda tax with deceptive ads.

The opposition, calling themselves the "No Oakland Grocery Tax Campaign," is using their deep pockets to bombard Oakland residents with misleading and untruthful mailers and TV ads asserting that the tax will raise the prices of grocery items. Campaign supporters from many different Oakland neighborhoods have reported receiving dozens of assorted mailers in the past two months.

Oakland's proposed tax is on distributors of sugar-sweetened beverages, and includes an exemption for small businesses. Only sugary drinks would be included in the tax (see our FAQ for more details). As City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan stated, "It's despicable...These ads with pictures of bread and vegetables are totally wrong. People need to know there is no grocery tax."