Maryland lawmakers will be asked to sweeten the state’s coffers by adding a tax on sugary drinks projected to raise nearly $500 million annually. If passed, Maryland could become the first state to tack a 2-cents-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks, syrups and powders. The money raised would be earmarked for free school meals, child care subsidies and the state’s general fund. A tax on distributors of sweetened drinks including those with artificial sugar substitutes would be imposed. Powders and syrups would also be taxed based on the total ounces of drink that each container could make. Automatic annual increases in the bill are tied to inflation — similar to how the state calculates gas tax rates each year.
More from your wallet: Critics of the measure feel that it is more about revenue raising and less about public health, dubbing it another sin tax when Marylanders are still feeling pinched economically. If passed, taxes on distributors will more than likely be passed onto consumers.
