Florida Senator Reintroduces Bottled Water Tax

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Florida State Sen. Evelyn Lynn (R-Ormond Beach) has filed a bill to tax bottled water after the defeat in May of an identical proposal she filed last year.

The bill, designated SB 78, would levy a 6% surcharge on the sale of bottled water in containers of less than one gallon. The proceeds would be earmarked for mitigating the environmental effects of discarded bottles.

The National Automatic Merchandising Association and the Automatic Merchandising Association of Florida, a NAMA state council, lobbied strongly in support of the industry and called on operators to voice their opposition to the bill. NAMA reported that Florida operators sent some 300 emails to their state senators and representatives, and credited their efforts with helping defeat the bill's passage. | SEE STORY

Their message to the legislators was that the bill would add a 7.5¢ tax on $1.25 bottle of water. Since vending operators can't raise their prices in penny and half-cent increments, industry leaders emphasized, they would not be able to pass the increase along to their customers, placing an unfair burden on their bottom lines.