PepsiCo takes off 2-liter bottles and 12-packs from Philadelphia grocery stores

PepsiCo, one of the world’s biggest cola brands, is pulling 2-liter bottles and 12-packs of its products from Philadelphia grocery store shelves over the city's new tax on sweetened drinks.

According to the New York based company, it wants to offer products and package sizes that can be better afforded by working families.

The 1.5-cent-per-ounce tax on sweetened and diet beverages is imposed at the distributor level. If fully passed on to the consumer it amounts to $1.44 on a six-pack of 16-ounce bottles.

Sodas including Pepsi and Mountain Dew and other sweetened drinks like Gatorade and Lipton Ice Tea are also affected by this decision.

Jim Kenney, Mayor of Philadelphia's office stated, "The industry was trending toward smaller sizes well before the tax passed."