Berkeley Levies Soda Tax, First City in the US

 SAN FRANCISCO (CN) – Berkeley became the first city in the United States to pass a soda tax, while a similar measure in San Francisco failed with voters.
Berkeley\’s Measure D, approved by nearly 75 percent of the city\’s voters, puts a 1-cent-per-ounce tax on soda and sugary drinks. Tax revenue will go into the city\’s general fund.
\”We\’re ecstatic,\” says Jeff Ritterman, vice president of the board of the San Francisco Bay Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility. \”Now we can actually demonstrate that we can use the money from the soda tax to improve the health of our community, and that\’s what we\’re going to do.\”