A soda tax for Philadelphia cleared a major hurdle Wednesday when the City Council’s budget committee – made up of all council members – voted to send a 1.5-cent per ounce tax on sweetened drinks to regular council meeting for formal adoption.

Dr. Jim Krieger, executive director of Healthy Food America, issued this statement in response:

“Council members stood up to more than $4 million worth of beverage industry pressure to do the right thing for the long-term health and life chances of Philadelphia kids.

In doing so, Philadelphia is showing communities across the country that taxes on sugary drinks are a viable way to recoup industry profits for important community priorities, alert residents to health harms from excessive sugar and start to turn the tide against them.

We commend and congratulate Mayor Jim Kenney and the courageous members of the City Council for their vision and fortitude."