Seattle, WA— According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, Seattle council members have approved a tax on sugary beverages in an attempt to discourage unhealthy consumption and to fund other initiatives, like scholarships and classroom investments, job training, healthy and affordable food access, and children's health programs.

Distributors now will have to pay a 1.75 cents tax per ounce of sugary drink. Diet drinks are not included. Syrups and concentrates will be taxed based on the quantity of the drinks they will produce.

Small businesses will be exempt from the tax. This includes businesses with less than $2 million in gross annual income. Businesses making between $2 million and $5 million in gross income will have a reduced tax of 1 cent per ounce.