We Did It Once, Let’s Do It Again—Berkeley’s Soda Tax

Committed to protecting the health of our community, Berkeley residents have placed Measure AA on the November ballot to strengthen the city’s pioneering sugary drink tax on distributors. The measure would fund school nutrition and gardening programs, community nutrition education, community health services, and improved water access.

“While Berkeley’s tax on Big Soda’s distributors has successfully reduced sugary drink consumption and supported community health, its impact is being undercut by rising inflation and federal cuts to existing health and nutrition programs. Measure AA addresses these realities and lets us strengthen our efforts against Big Soda’s predatory marketing practices.” —Martin Bourque, Executive Director

The measure is not a parcel or sales tax. Instead, it would increase Berkeley’s existing fee on sugary drink distributors from 1 cent to 2 cents per ounce, while continuing to exempt Berkeley’s small businesses. Measure AA also codifies funding:

• 42.5% to protect dedicated funding for Berkeley Unified School District nutrition and gardening programs
• 42.5% for community-based nutrition education, health, and improved water access programs
• 15% to pay for City overhead and maintain public oversight and annual reporting

In 2014, voters in Berkeley passed the first-in-the-nation tax on sugary drink distributors. A 2024 evaluation showed the measure to be remarkably successful, driving down consumption of unhealthy sugary drinks by more than 30 percent, funding critical community health programs and improving the overall health behaviors of Berkeley residents. 81% of voters elected to make the tax on distributors permanent in 2024.

According to the American Heart Association, sugary drinks, including soda, energy drinks, sports drinks, and other beverages with added sugar are the largest source of added sugar in the American diet and contribute to serious health problems, including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and tooth decay. Supporters say these health concerns make continued investment in prevention and community health programs especially important.

“The pernicious marketing practices of Big Soda are taking a huge toll on our communities, especially some of our most vulnerable populations,” says Bay Area American Heart Association Board Member David B. Vliet. “Berkeley has proven that we can stand up against corporate bullies. With Measure AA, Berkeley is once again putting our community and our children’s health ahead of corporate profits.”

Placed on the November ballot with the support of over 5,000 signatures collected by volunteers, Measure AA needs a majority vote of the electorate to pass.  To find out more about Measure AA, visit www.BerkeleyVsBigSoda.org.

To lend your support, join our Measure AA Kick-Off Campaign on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the Ecology Center.