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About Us
Coalition Members
What You Can Do To Help
What Others Are Saying
About Us
Americans Against Food Taxes is a coalition of concerned citizens – responsible individuals, financially strapped families, small and large businesses in communities across the country – opposed to the Government’s proposed tax hike on food and beverages, including soda, juice drinks, and flavored milks. The coalition has twin primary aims: 1) To promote a healthy economy and healthy lifestyles by educating Americans about smart solutions that rely upon science, economic realities and common sense; and 2) To prevent the enactment of this regressive and discriminatory tax that will not teach our children how to have a healthy lifestyle, and will have no meaningful impact on child behavior or public health, but will have a negative impact on American families struggling in this economy.
Regional Coalition Co-Chairs
Nelson A. Eusebio
Northeast Regional Co-Chair
National Supermarkets Association
Jim Smith
Southeast Regional Co-Chair
Florida Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association
Thomas S. Jackson
Midwest Regional Co-Chair
Ohio Grocers Association
Gene Valdez
Southwest Regional Co-Chair
New Mexico Grocers Association
Coalition Members include over 57,000 concerned individuals and the following:
7-Eleven, Inc.
AARP – Illinois
Advantage Vending Equipment
Alabama Beverage Association
Alabama Grocers Association
Alabama Restaurant Association
Alcan Packaging
Alivio Medical Center
Allen Beverages, Inc.
American Advertising Federation
American Bakers Association
American Beverage Association
American Council on Science and Health
American Wholesale Marketers Association
Americans for Prosperity
Americans for Tax Reform
American G.I. Forum Midwest
American Hotel & Lodging Association
Arizona Automatic Merchandising Association
Arizona Beverage Association
Arizona Food Marketing Alliance
Arizona Retailers Association
Arkansas Beverage Association
Arkansas Grocers and Retail Merchants Association
ASPIRA Association, The
Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers
Associated Oregon Industries
Association of Commerce and Industry
Automated Petroleum
Bernick’s Beverages and Vending
Beverage Association of Mississippi
Beverage Association of Tennessee
Beverage Association of Vermont
Beverage Truck & Trailer, LLC
Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin
Brinker International
Brooklyn (Kings County) Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Burger King Corporation
California Grocers Association
California-Nevada Soft Drink Association
Can Manufacturers Institute
Canada Dry Bottling Co. of New York
Cargill, Inc.
Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
Carolinas Food Industry Council
Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc.
Chemical Industry Council of Illinois
Chesterman Company
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Clark Beverage Group
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. High Country
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United, Inc.
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Fort Wayne, IN
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Minden, Inc.
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Northern New England
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Winona, MN
Coca-Cola Bottling Works, Inc.
Coca-Cola Company, The
Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.
Coin Acceptors, Inc.
Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry
Colorado Beverage Association
Colorado Restaurant Association
Colorado Retail Council
Colorado/Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association
Connecticut Food Association
Corinth Coca-Cola Bottling Works, Inc.
Corn Refiners Association
Cornelius
Corwin Beverage Company
Council for Citizens Against Government Waste
Cowan Systems, LLC
Coyote Bait & Tackle
CPF, Inc.
Cuban American National Council
D.R.A Elks Theatre
Darden Restaurants, Inc.
Dawn Food Products, Inc.
Delaware Food Industry Council
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Dobert Dairy, Inc.
Domino’s Pizza
Dr Pepper Bottling Company of Dublin
Dr Pepper-Royal Crown Bottling Co.
Dr Pepper Snapple Group
Enterprise Leasing Company of Georgia
Entravision Communications
Erie Neighborhood House (Chicago)
First Choice Vending
Florida Beverage Association
Florida Chamber of Commerce
Florida Dairy Products Association
Florida Maritime Leadership Coalition
Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
Food Industry Association Executives
Food Marketing Institute
G&J Pepsi-Cola Bottlers
GALOS Corporation
Georgia Agribusiness Council
Georgia Association of Convenience Stores
Georgia Beverage Association
Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Georgia Food Industry Association
Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Georgia Restaurant Association
Georgia Retail Association
Glacéau
Global Closure Systems OBRIST Americas
Grand Theatres
Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co., The
Great Dane Trailers
Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
Gristedes Supermarkets
Grocery Manufacturers Association
Hispanic Alliance for Prosperity
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
Hispanic Federation
Hispanic Institute, The
Hispanic Media Council
Hoosier Beverage Association
Idaho Soft Drink Association
Illinois Association of Convenience Stores
Illinois Beverage Association
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Illinois Food Retailers Association
Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association, The
Illinois Retail Merchants Association
Independent Bakers Association
Independent Buyers’ Co-op
Indiana Grocery and Convenience Store Association
Indiana Restaurant Association
Indiana Retail Council
Institute for Liberty
International Dairy Foods Association
International Dairy Queen, Inc.
International Paper Company
Iowa Association of Business and Industry
Iowa Beverage Association
Iowa Wholesale Distributors Association
Jack in the Box
KAGRO International
Kansas Beverage Association
Kansas Chamber, The
Kansas Food Dealers Association
Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association
Kentucky Association of Convenience Stores
Kentucky Beverage Association
Kentucky Grocers Association
Kentucky Hotel and Lodging Association
Kentucky Restaurant Association
Kwik Trip, Inc.
L & E Bottling Company
Lakeside Pepsi-Cola
Lancer Corporation
Latin Chamber of Commerce of the United States, The
Latino Coalition, The
Latino Council on the Media
League of United Latin American Citizens
LinPepCo Partnership
Little Village Chamber of Commerce
Logan Luxury Theatres Corp.
Louisiana Beverage Association
Louisiana Retailers Association
Mack II, Inc.
Maine Beverage Association
Maine Grocers Association
Maine Merchants Association
Maine Restaurant Association
MANA, A National Latina Organization
Manufacture Alabama
Maryland Retailers Association
Massachusetts Beverage Association
Massachusetts Food Association
McDonald’s
McKenzie Oil Company, Inc.
MD/DC/DE Beverage Association
MeadWestvaco Corporation
MEI, Inc.
Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
Mexican American Grocers Association
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Michigan Distributors & Vendors Association
Michigan Food and Beverage Association
Michigan Grocers Association
Michigan Restaurant Association
Michigan Retailers Association
Michigan Soft Drink Association
Mid-Atlantic National Association of Theatre Owners
Mid-Atlantic Petroleum Distributors’ Association
Mid-States National Association of Theatre Owners
Mid-Wisconsin Beverage, Inc.
Midwest Dairy Foods Association
Midwest Food Processors Association
Minges Bottling Group
Minnesota Beverage Association
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Minnesota Grocers Association
Minnesota Lodging Association
Minnesota Restaurant Association
Minnesota Retailers Association
Mississippi Automatic Merchandising Association
Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association
Missouri Beverage Association
Missouri Retailers Association
Montana Beverage Association
NAACP Chicago Westside Branch
NAACP Milwaukee Branch
NAACP New York State Conference
National Association of Concessionaires
National Association of Convenience Stores
National Association of Hispanic Publications
National Association of Manufacturers
National Association of PET Container Resources
National Association of Theatre Owners
National Association of Theatre Owners California/Nevada
National Association of Theatre Owners of New York State
National Automatic Merchandising Association
National Confectioners Association
National Council of Chain Restaurants
National Grocers Association
National Hispana Leadership Institute
National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators
National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts
National Hispanic Medical Association
National Latino Education Institute (Chicago)
National Puerto Rican Association
National Restaurant Association
National Retail Federation
National Supermarket Association
National Taxpayers Union
Nebraska Beverage Association
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Nebraska Retail Federation
Nehi Bottling Company of Cleveland, MS
Nei Bottling Group, Inc.
Neighborhood Market Association
New England Convenience Store Association
New Hampshire Grocers Association
New Hampshire Soft Drink Association
New Jersey Beverage Association
New Jersey Food Council
New Mexico Beverage Association
New Mexico Grocers Association
NFIB/Colorado – Wyoming
North Carolina Beverage Association
North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association
North Carolina Retail Merchants Association
North Carolina Wholesalers Association
North Dakota Grocers Association
North Dakota Hospitality Association
North Dakota Retail Association
North Dakota Petroleum Marketers Association
Ohio Chamber of Commerce
Ohio Corn Growers Association
Ohio Council of Retail Merchants
Ohio Grocers Association
Ohio Hotel and Lodging Association
Ohio Manufactuers’ Association, The
Ohio Restaurant Association
Ohio Soft Drink Association
Oklahoma Beverage Association
Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative
Oregon Soft Drink Association
Original Roadhouse Grill
Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co.
Pace Global Energy Services
Pennsylvania Beverage Association
Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association
Pennsylvania Restaurant Association
Pepsi Bottling Group
Pepsi Bottling Ventures
Pepsi Northwest Beverages
PepsiAmericas, Inc.
PepsiCo, Inc.
Pepsi-Cola & National Brand Beverages
Pepsi-Cola of Florence, LLC
Pepsi-Cola of Rochester, MN
Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Association
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Atmore
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Central VA
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Hastings
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Hickory, NC
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of LaCrosse
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Logansport
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of New York
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Pipestone, MN
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Roxboro, NC
Pepsi-Cola Decatur, LLC
Pepsi-Cola Dr Pepper Bottling Co.
Pepsi-Cola of Northeast Wisconsin
Pepsi-Cola of Topeka
Pilsen Neighbors Community Council
Plastic Recycling Corporation of Califonia
Portland Bottling Company
Quail Mountain, Inc.
Quality Retail Services, Inc.
Rainey Cawthon Distributors, Inc.
Red Bull North America, Inc.
Refreshment Services, Inc.
Rehrig Pacific Company
Restaurant Association of Maryland
Retail Merchants of Hawaii
Rexam, Inc.
Rhode Island Beverage Association
Ron’s Towing, Inc.
SandenVendo America, Inc.
Secure America’s Future Economy (Delaware)
Seneca Wholesale Co., Inc.
SER-Jobs for Progress National, Inc.
Shepherd and Goldstein
Sherm’s Thunderbird Markets, Inc.
Snack Food Association
South Carolina Beverage Association
South Carolina Retail Association
South Central States National Association of Theatre Owners
South Dakota Beverage Association
Southeast National Association of Theatre Owners
State Chamber of Oklahoma, The
Streva Distributing Co. of New Iberia, Inc.
Sun Drop Bottling Co.
Sunny Delight Beverages Co.
Swire Coca-Cola
Teamsters Local Union 792
Teamsters Local Union 812
Teamsters Local Union 1199
Temple Bottling Company
Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association
Texas Association of Manufacturers
Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce
Texas Beverage Association
Texas Grocery and Convenience Association
Texas Roadhouse
Theatre Owners of Indiana
Towerwall, Inc.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute
U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce
Utah Beverage Association
Utah Food Industry Association
Varsity Beverage
Venmart, Inc.
Vermont Grocers’ Association
Virginia Automatic Merchandising Association
Virginia Beverage Association
Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Manufacturers Association
Virginia Wholesalers and Distributors Association
Vitro Packaging, LLC
Voy Theatres
Walton Beverage Company
Washington Soft Drink Association
Welch’s
Wendy’s/Arby’s Group, Inc.
West Virginia Beverage Association
West Virginia Oil Marketers and Grocers Association
Western Kentucky Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc.
Wilson Corporation
Wisconsin Automatic Merchandising Council
Wisconsin Beverage Association
Wisconsin Grocers Association
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce
Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association
Wisconsin Restaurant Association
Wisconsin Retail Council
WP Beverages, LLC
Wyoming Beverage Association
Yum! Brands, Inc.
What You Can Do To Help
· Sign up to support Americans Against Food Taxes by clicking here.
· Write your legislator and tell them you don’t want more taxes by clicking here.
· Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
What Others Are Saying
“Taxes on beer, soda, juice and snack food — along with new limits on charitable contributions — have all been proposed. But actually they’re a drop in the bucket relative to the amount of new taxes that would be required to fund their plan. I’d like to know when will we draw the line and try something other than new taxes and massive new government spending to solve the problem. Americans want health care reform. But most of them don’t want to be saddled with mountains of new debt.” – Sen. John Kyl, CSPAN2, 6/23/2009
“I think those are nuisance taxes. Nuisance taxes, not health care taxes.” – Sen. Grassley (R-IA), CNBC, 6/4/2009
“… Can’t you find some savings out of that enormous sum before you start hitting us with more of these taxes?” – Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), NPR transcript, 5/22/09
“That’s a hefty tax and it’s not something I would support. I just think it sets a bad precedent. Where do you draw the line? It’s better to scrutinize the policy we’re developing; we really have to look at how we are going to achieve savings.” – Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Sun Journal, 5/23/09
“I don’t believe we need to tax one penny more to fix health care in this country.” – Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), Julie Rovner show, NPR, 5/22/2009
“If you came up with a list of the top 200 things in this nation that could be taxed, this administration wouldn’t miss any of them.” – U.S. Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), Atlanta Journal Constitution, 5/19/09
“By reaching into Americans’ grocery carts, Congress and the president would be resorting to regressive taxation, as the burden of these beverage taxes would disproportionately fall on those earning less. Congress should be looking for ways to cut spending rather than trying to raise taxes on the middle class.” – Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, USA Today 6/4/2009
“No, for two reasons. One, it’s a nuisance tax. Number two, it — at least for Republicans, we think that money saved on health programs or money raised on taxes within health programs ought to be the sole source of offset for health care reform. Democrats feel differently about it, but I don’t think it includes a tax on sugar…getting back to the soda tax, I said it was in one of our option papers. Understand that that was not an endorsement by Senator Baucus and me as we put the paper together of that form of taxation.” — Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), CQ Transcriptions, LLC. “Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, Holds a News Teleconference.” In response to a question about whether a soda tax should be implemented to fund healthcare reforms. 6/16/2009
“The reality is that a soft drink tax is simply the wrong public policy.” – Susan Neely, President and CEO, American Beverage Association, in the Huffington Post 6/3/2009
“We do not serve the public well by giving them the notion that one beverage – soda – is the reason they have steadily gained weight. Rather than singling out an individual food, beverage or ingredient, I urge our government to promote healthier lifestyles.” Dr. Liz Applegate (director of sports nutrition at UC Davis) just-drinks global news “Focus: US soft drinks sector in policy dogfight” Story by Ben Cooper. 6/18/2009
“Get real. First, given the track record of the federal government on health care, believing that having Uncle Sam tax our Dr. Peppers will resolve the mess is like believing that Al Franken is going on a hunting trip with Dick Cheney.” – Times Record News 6/7/2009
“The soda tax also lacks the fizz to address the obesity problem.” – Associated Content 5/28/2009
“Obesity is a complex issue that won’t be solved with a tax hike on regular soft drinks.” – The Clarion Ledger 5/26/2009
