Philadelphia, the first major city in the nation to pass a sugary beverage tax, is looking for a PR firm to guide communications for its rollout.
The city released an RFP to handle communications and outreach for the Sweetened Beverage Tax, passed by the city council in June as a special levy of 1.5 cents per ounce on distributors of drinks like sodas, sport drinks and energy drinks with added sweeteners. It is also levied on syrups and concentrates used to make sweetened drinks.
The beverage industry, including heavyweights like PepsiCo and Dr. Pepper Snapple via the American Beverage Association, warn of large consumer price increases if the tax is implemented. They also argue such a tax is discriminatory.
Philadelphia plans to roll out the tax in January through its Dept. of Revenue. It wants a PR campaign to educate all affected taxpayers, as well as retailers, to ensure compliance
PR proposals are due Aug. 12. View the RFP (PDF).
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