Bottled water would be taxed for the first time in Florida under a bill given initial approval in a Senate committee.
The measure by Sen. Evelyn Lynn would impose a 6 percent tax
on all bottles of water and direct the funding toward cleaning up old
plastic bottles that are thrown away. The tax would bring in $42
million next year: “It is a surcharge to save the environment,” said
Lynn, R-Ormond Beach.
Critics in the beverage industry say the tax is “punative” and could
cause job losses due to people buying fewer water bottles. “In terms of
the environmental impact, it’s far, far less than many sectors of the
economy,” said Florida Beverage Association lobbyist Martha Harbin.
The bill could be changed to add an exemption for large water
bottles to spare people who buy bottled water in place of their normal
drinking water.
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