The 2016 Healthy Boulder Kids initiative to establish a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages gained support from a diverse coalition of organizations, health professionals, community leaders, and concerned citizens. This page preserves the historical record of those who endorsed Ballot Measure 2H, which voters approved on November 8, 2016, imposing a 2-cent per ounce tax on beverages with at least five grams of added-calorie sweetener in 12 fluid ounces.
Health Organizations and Professionals
The medical and public health communities strongly supported the initiative, citing overwhelming evidence linking sugar-sweetened beverages to obesity, diabetes, and other health conditions. Health professionals emphasized that a single 20-ounce bottle of soda typically contains approximately 16 teaspoons of sugar, with campaign materials noting that popular sodas contain “22 packets of sugar” – amounts far exceeding recommended daily limits.
Key health organization endorsements included:
- Boulder County Public Health
- Colorado Public Health Association
- Local pediatricians and family physicians
- Dental health professionals
- Nutritionists and dietitians
These endorsements aligned with positions from national organizations like the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, which has extensively documented the health impacts of sugar-sweetened beverages and supported taxation as one strategy to reduce consumption.
Community Organizations
The grassroots nature of the Healthy Boulder Kids coalition was reflected in the broad base of community organizations that endorsed the measure, including:
- Parent-teacher organizations
- Community centers serving low-income families
- Food access and nutrition education nonprofits
- Environmental groups concerned about plastic bottle waste
- Social justice organizations focused on health equity
These organizations recognized that the health threats posed by unhealthy sugary drinks disproportionately affect low-income families, who often have less access to healthy alternatives and nutrition education.
Political Support
The initiative gained endorsements from several local elected officials and candidates. The measure became part of broader political discussions during the 2016 election season, when similar measures were on the ballot in San Francisco, Oakland, and Albany, California.
On the national level, the debate over soda taxes highlighted ideological differences, with Hillary Clinton endorsing Philadelphia’s soda tax proposal while Bernie Sanders opposed it as regressive, arguing it would disproportionately affect low-income and middle-class Americans.
In Boulder, however, the focus remained on the health benefits and the specific commitment to use the estimated $3.8 million in annual revenue to boost healthy eating and physical education programs for low-income residents.
Campaign Leadership
The Healthy Boulder Kids campaign was led by a steering committee of dedicated advocates, including:
- Angelique Espinoza, who served as a spokesperson and celebrated the victory by stating, “Boulder stood up for our kids. We understand the health threats posed by unhealthy sugary drinks, especially on low-income families.”
- Public health experts who helped craft the policy based on evidence from places like Berkeley, California (the first U.S. city to pass such a tax in 2014) and Mexico (which saw a 6% reduction in soda sales after implementing a nationwide tax in 2013, with a 9% reduction among low-income households)
- Community organizers who gathered signatures and built grassroots support
Business Community
While the beverage industry opposed the measure, spending millions fighting similar initiatives nationwide, some local businesses endorsed the Healthy Boulder Kids campaign, particularly those focused on health, wellness, and sustainable food systems.
It’s worth noting that not all health-oriented businesses supported the measure. For example, Jamba Dunn, CEO of Boulder’s Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha, expressed concerns that the tax would affect healthier alternatives like kombucha due to their natural sugar content, stating, “I don’t believe people had all the information they needed to make an accurate vote.”
Legacy of Support
The broad coalition that came together to support Ballot Measure 2H reflected Boulder’s commitment to public health, particularly for children. The successful campaign demonstrated how diverse stakeholders could unite around a common goal of reducing sugar consumption and promoting healthier alternatives.
The tax went into effect on July 1, 2017, joining similar measures in Berkeley, Philadelphia, and the three California cities that passed soda taxes on the same election day in November 2016.
For more information about the initiative itself, please visit our About the Initiative page. To learn about the specific details of the ballot measure, see our Ballot Measure 2H page.