Not surprised. Sad for those laid off.
Local Philly mainstream news was trying to spin the story to make it look like a success, just bringing in the money at a little slower than expected pace. But the ‘man on the street’ interviews and observations tell a different story. Those who can are driving into the suburbs and buying there, not just sodas/drinks but their entire grocery list. Those who can’t are either doing without or cutting way back. No-one wants to spend these prices for a soda, and it’s not just that, even things like almond milk and some mixed fruit juices, esp. those that kids will actually drink.
Egad! They have met the food desert creators, and it's them!
Concord, maybe Carlisle, MA has a bunch of trustfunders that passed an ordinance banning the sale of bottled water. Probably based on container volume.
So, it inconveniences lots of people, shafts the local gasmarts, and in times of emergencies (blizzards/hurricanes), reduces the supply of a needed product from the immediate locality.