Beverage Industry Pours Money Into Campaign To Defeat Berkeley Soda Tax Ballot Measure

BERKELEY (CBS SF) -- The American Beverage Association has donated another half-million dollars to fight a Berkeley ballot measure that would tax sodas and other sugary drinks.

The contribution by the beverage industry is in addition to an earlier $300,000 donation to the No on Measure D campaign, and is believed to be the largest single campaign donation in the city's history.

In July, the Berkeley City Council unanimously voted to place the one-cent-per-ounce tax measure on the November ballot.

Proponents of the tax cite studies that show sugary drinks are linked to obesity, diabetes and other chronic health problems.

Opponents say the tax will hurt businesses and impact lower-income families the most.

San Francisco supervisors have also passed a soda tax measure for November ballot.