Walgreens purchase turns sour over sweetened beverage tax

Walgreens is sinning against the latest sin tax over sugary beverages in Chicagoland, according to a class action lawsuit filed Monday that accuses the retailer of charging the sweetened beverage tax on unsweetened drinks. 

Vince De Leon, a Schaumburg, Illinois, resident, purchased a case of Dasani Tropical Pineapple Sparkling Water on Aug. 4 — two days after the new tax went into effect in Cook County — and says he was illegally taxed, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Less than a week later, he filed the lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court on behalf of himself and anyone who has paid the new tax on an unsweetened drink at any Walgreens in Cook County, the newspaper reported.

The lawsuit accuses Deerfield, Illinois-based Walgreens of violating the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and unjustly enriching its business by collecting the taxes. The tax ordinance adds an extra penny-per-ounce tax to sugar-sweetened beverages, including everything from sodas to sweetened iced teas, yet unsweetened drinks such as bottled water, 100% juice and sparkling water, are exempt.

Walgreens has not commented on the lawsuit.