Comments on: The Next Sin Tax – Twinkies & Ice Cream? A Look at the Food Sin Tax

By: concerned citizen

concerned citizen — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 18:03:59 +0000

Sin Tax!!! Since when is the government able to tell me what I can eat and further, enact punitive measures (taxes) if I disagree with their choices. How about abolishing all sin taxes including those on cigarettes and liquor.

By: Jessica Bosari

Jessica Bosari — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:03:58 +0000

I’ve been evangelizing this idea to anyone who will listen for a long time. I had no idea that it might become a reality. So many public health problems could be solved, plus sorely needed revenues raised, by simply taxing the stuff that’s bad for us to death. We do it for alcohol and tobacco. Sugary foods are deadly too. Just look at the type 2 diabetes rates in this country. A tax on red meat wouldn’t hurt either…

I wonder, though. Maybe we shouldn’t be taxing raw sugar that we use for baking. Shouldn’t it be convenience foods? Should we be taxing betty crocker?

By: Alex Burda

Alex Burda — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:10:19 +0000

Sometimes these types of taxes are just pure revenue raisers for governments. I can undersatnd that certain products have detrimental health effects such as drinking alcohol & smoking cigarettes but it is the peoples choice to consume them.

You should see the tax on pre-mixed alcoholic drinks in Australia. It has gone through the roof and was introduced to stop teenagers from drinking.

Well how silly, teenagers now buy full bottles of spririts and mix it themselves. Does not solve the teenage drinking issue but does increase tax revenue on the pre-mixed drinks purchases.

By: G.E. Miller

G.E. Miller — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:02:33 +0000

@ Robert – yes, the most obese nation on the planet.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:31:28 +0000

Twinkie Tax…I thought we were living in AMERICA?

By: FinanciallySmart

FinanciallySmart — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:50:10 +0000

There is nothing wrong in paying taxes on sin foods but were these taxes implement because the officials has concern for its citizenry this is the question that is being asked. Are the same citizenry will take heed and recognize that these sin foods are detrimental to them? These sin foods are being purchase by the poor because they see it as comfort zone why should it be heavily tax?

By: Avery

Avery — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:24:57 +0000

I am completely support the sin taxes.’sin’ foods cause too healthy problems.For that,I am really fat and I am really hate ‘sin’ foods.

By: Texas Wahoo

Texas Wahoo — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:12:19 +0000

Did you see that study that just came out about the 10 most dangerous foods for getting food-born illnesses? I think we really need to start taking lettuce heavily in order to combat the strain these illnesses put on our health care system.

By: David

David — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:11:55 +0000

Sin taxes work well in theory, in practice however they engender many moral dilemmas.

Take cigarettes for example, heavily taxed in every state. When you look at who pays this tax, it’s almost entirely paid by undereducated, low income citizens. Many of which have mental diabilities. Doesn’t seem entirely fair that segment of society should pay a disproptionate amount for what is really just a personal choice.

Also, sin taxes are notoriously ineffective. They drive growth in black markets. When cigarette taxes went up in NYC in the late 90′s, the number of cigarettes smoked stayed the same while the adjusted tax revenue dropped by a whopping 25%!

Finally, the idea of the government using taxes to discourage behavior seems draconian and wrong to me.

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:07:06 +0000

Yeah, the tax isn’t because of the health value of the product. Taxes on items that are stable in consumer spending (gas, cigarettes, alcohol) get taxed specially because they are consistent areas of revenue. Why else would the Brits tax tea?