Dive Brief:
- The American Beverage Association donated $500,000 earlier this month to a campaign aimed at blocking a soda tax in Berkeley, CA. The trade group had earlier given $300,000 to the cause.
- The donation brings the total spent by the soda industry so far on campaigns in Berkeley and San Francisco to roughly $2 million.
- Both cities, widely regarded as among the most left-leaning communities in America, will vote in November on whether or not to tax soda sales.
Dive Insight:
After fighting back anti-soda laws in New York City and elsewhere, the soda industry views the Bay Area as the last great battle. The beverage makers know that if they can win there, they can probably win anywhere. Given such high stakes, the sheer volume of cash pouring into the area is not surprising.