http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Tax-on-soda-to-be-floated-in-San-Francisco-4932025.php
Wiener's proposal would levy a tax of 24 cents on each can of soda sold in the city, where fast-food restaurants are already prohibited from handing out free toys in kids' meals high in fat, salt and sugar.
The proceeds would fund health, nutrition and activity programs for city youth.
Similar tax measures were defeated last year across the bay in Richmond and in the Los Angeles County town of El Monte, after the beverage industry spent millions of dollars to kill the proposals.
Three big issues. 1) Do you see this as a Pigouvian tax? For the health of children, to reduce obesity? 2) Is this a just way to raise revenue or do you feel this affects your right to choose what's good for yourself? 3) Will such a reform ever be passed successfully? Will the giant corporations of the beverage industry like Coca Cola etc use their might to lobby against it?
Wiener's proposal would levy a tax of 24 cents on each can of soda sold in the city, where fast-food restaurants are already prohibited from handing out free toys in kids' meals high in fat, salt and sugar.
The proceeds would fund health, nutrition and activity programs for city youth.
Similar tax measures were defeated last year across the bay in Richmond and in the Los Angeles County town of El Monte, after the beverage industry spent millions of dollars to kill the proposals.
Three big issues. 1) Do you see this as a Pigouvian tax? For the health of children, to reduce obesity? 2) Is this a just way to raise revenue or do you feel this affects your right to choose what's good for yourself? 3) Will such a reform ever be passed successfully? Will the giant corporations of the beverage industry like Coca Cola etc use their might to lobby against it?
I think this is a great idea, which would set an example for other cities in USA to follow. As the article mentions, this tax proposal is more likely to be passed as the tax proceeds will fund health, nutrition and activity programs for city youth.However, we are yet to see what the corporate giants will do to prevent this from happening.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a good idea as it discourages the consumption of soda, which is definitely bad for one's health. With all the health problems Americans face due to obesity, I think taxes like this are necessary. But will it pass? I'd say that's unlikely. A huge multinational corporation such as Coca Cola has a lot of power and persuasion of these things.
ReplyDeleteIt is an example of a Pigouvian tax but I doubt the usefulness of the tax. This has failed before and I think it is going to fail again. Education is a better way to improve people's diet. I mean there is a similar tax on alcohol and people need more help than Pigouvian taxes to control their drinking.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if the tax system is the best way to go about this but I do like that politicians are making strides to further public health issues and fix some of the problems with the food industry. Will it pass? I think only time will tell.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great idea and ideally it will help our country with obesity, however i feel that this tax will not solely solve the problem because it will no regulate everyone habits when it comes to drinking soda.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Colin on this one: I'm all for greater efforts to improve public health, including discouraging (or banning) really bad health choices. However, the tax system seems entirely the wrong way to go about it in this case
ReplyDeleteGood point, Gift. Education has the potential to help with many many issues indeed.
ReplyDeleteDisincentives for bad things is good. I think I like this.
ReplyDeleteI think this is great! They should go for it!
ReplyDeletei also think this is a great idea too. once it becomes a law, it will also become a habit to think about consuming unhealthy food/drinks.
ReplyDelete