The Cook County Illinois law that imposes taxes on independent business based on the sugar in the drinks they sell is absolutely absurd. First off the independent retailers are not the manufacturers of the beverages that contain sugars. They are the middle man. How does the state measure the tax? Is it based upon grams of sugar per serving? No. There is no evidence of any sort of structure in the amount of tax imposed on the sales of sugary beverages. If someone purchases tea or coffee in a self serve beverage distributor, and one person elects to use no sugar in their coffee or tea and another person elects to use 8 packets of tea, would that person be taxed more? Who would monitor their sugar usage? Would the government have to hire someone to observe the sugar usage of each individual? How would this apply to artificial sweeteners? This idea is ridiculous. If this becomes a law, how far does it extend? If you apply a “sugar tax” what about a “salt tax” or a “pepper tax”? This idea is the opposite of freedom and another way to tax people for pleasure. Plus there is no reasonable way to measure this form of taxation. Cook County looks like Kook count with this absurd taxation infringement on the people of Illinois.
Read more: Illinois retailers sue Cook County to halt sugary drink tax