Dollar Tree pulls soda off shelves after soda tax

The Dollar Tree chain pulled sodas and sugary drinks from its shelves following the passage of Measure D in November. Photo: Seung Y. Lee

Shoppers at the two Dollar Tree stores in Berkeley will no longer find sodas and sugary drinks on theirshelves following the passage of the soda tax last November.

In the Dollar Tree discount store on 2440 Shattuck Ave., the refrigerators once full of soda bottles are now stocked with water. The other Dollar Tree store in Berkeley, on 1284 San Pablo Ave., has also removed its sugary drinks.

Dollar Tree which sells a variety of products for $1 or less and has more than 5,200 stores in North America decided to pull out sodas in its Berkeley storeswhen the soda tax went into effect on Jan. 1, according to Randy Guiler, vice president of investor relations.

Donald Duck juice bottles sold in Dollar Tree. Photo: Seung Y. Lee

Due to the increased cost from the Berkeley sugary drinks and soda tax, we are no longer able to carry sugary drinks and soda at the one-dollar price point, Guiler said.

But visitors to Dollar Tree stores can still get a sugar fix of sorts. The store carries fruit juice, which is not subject to the one cent per ounce tax.

Berkeley became the first city in the United States to pass a soda tax last November. Measure D, which drew national attention and supportive donors like former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, passed overwhelmingly with 76% of the votes despite heavy opposition lobbying from the beverage industry.

BerkeleyCouncilman Laurie Capitelli, whohas been a main proponent of Measure D,was relieved to see the Dollar Tree stores replacing its soda selections with water bottles.

Im actually thrilled, Capitelli said. Im hoping other businesses will follow suit, and I hope they replace it with water bottles.

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Dollar Tree pulls soda off shelves after soda tax