Obesity Tax on Energy Drinks
Your energy drinks could become more expensive in New York if Governor David Paterson has his way.
He is proposing that there should be a 15% “obesity tax” Placed on all sugary beverages such as energy drink. Sugar free versions will be exempt.
He claims that he is helping to end obesity in his state by discouraging his citizens from buying such products, however, opponents to this plan say that the state could generate about 404 million dollars a year. They claim that this is just a money making ploy to help offset the 15.4 billion dollar deficit that’s facing the state.
If this bill passes then expect your $3.00 energy drink to cost you an additional $.45 on top of the 8% sales tax in most places in New York.
The really bad news is that if this passes in New York, other states will surely follow suit and impose similar taxes. I have a few problems with this taxation mentality. Raising taxes will not solve the problem just as it did not solve the smoking problem. People still smoke and people will still drink sugar laden drinks. Also, Is it really the job of the government to police what people choose to eat and drink apart from illegal substance?
If you live in New York and want to exercise your democratic rights go to nyobesitytax.org and sign the petition there. If you don’t live in New York participate in the poll below.
Source: BevNet.com
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13 Comments
At least I live close to Jersey this would not effect me that much.
I don’t like the idea that sugar-free drinks will be cheaper. However, i don’t buy the slippery slope argument. NYC has banned Trans fats, but I haven’t seen other cities following suit.
This is purely a cheap attempt to get revenue for the state. Depending on what aspect of your health you look at, you could be better off with a sugar containing drink (Rockstar or most juice-based energy drinks) than with HFCS or ‘diet’ sugars.
NYC banning trans fats doesn’t make anyone money, whereas a tax DOES; and therefore other cities and states are going to be more likely to follow suit. Of course Chris is right it’s just an attempt to create more revenue.
As far as the title of the tax, even, it’s ridiculous. I consume quite a large amount of sugar (and caffeine as well) basically every day and would not be considered by anyone to be even near “obese”.
Are they planning on taxing fruit juices as well, which contain natural sugars?
“Are they planning on taxing fruit juices as well, which contain natural sugars?”
Exactly. Take a look at MOST of the beverages on the market today; many contain high levels of sugar. Even the Vitamin Water line has a lot of sugar.
I’m having a hard time trying to wrap my head around this idea.
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The government already uses taxes to shape social behavior: tax deductions for mortgage interest and property taxes are there to encourage home ownership, tax deductions for charitable donations encourage this, tax deductions for solar cells installed in your home, etc.
This is no different, and I think it’s a great idea, just like taxes on tobacco helped, over time, to greatly reduce the smoking rate. Sugary drinks are a huge problem for many kids not lucky enough to be unaffected by them and are indeed obese. It is so socially acceptable to drink these, however, that it takes someone with as strong a voice as the government to stand up and say THIS IS BAD FOR YOU! Maybe they will listen.
Really though it is only about money. Think of all the fat people you know. They all drink diet drinks for the most part.
I don’t think “Diet” drinks are a viable alternative. and in someways potentially more harmful.
Indeed “Diet” drinks are not really a viable alternative, but according to this article would be taxed less than normal drinks. “Some scientists have recommended further investigation into any possible connection between aspartame and diseases such as brain tumors, brain lesions, mental disorders, and lymphoma.” … Sounds incredibly safe to me.
[Sugary drinks are a huge problem for many kids not lucky enough to be unaffected by them and are indeed obese.] – Andrew.
So, instead of making them more expensive for these kids to buy (which will not stop anything), why not use public schooling to teach them the risks of consuming such foods (i’m talking ALL junk food, not just sugary drinks) without other foods that are better for them, and mostly without exercise? Face it, most kids these days sit around at home on their computers or in front of a tv and never do anything to burn their calorie intake.
I have to agree with tramp, kids are fat because they don’t do anything. When I was young we played outside all the time, kids today don’t. My neighbor drives his kids the two blocks to school and his kids are in 5th and 6th grade.
Man, my country’s government is a complete tard.
Andrew you have got to be kidding me. Luckily, I am from Kansas and we dont care much about what anyone else does but as to a 15% tax raise on Sugary drinks.?! that wont solve anything. If they wanted to target something, they should target Starbucks crappy coffee. Real coffee doesnt require the pansy New Yorker coffee drinkers to laden their specialty drinks with sugar and creamer as to hide that bitter and disgusting after taste that is a product of automatic esspresso machines and $hi77y bean selection. Energy drinks and soft drinks arent the primary culprits. the people are. Go play soccer, or baseball, or even bowling. Do something. Target the parents for the sedative lifestyle’s they allow there children to endure. The mockery that money makes anyone change is assinine and all that will happen is companies will lose business and drop the prices $.45 to allow there sales to regain ground. Same aspect applies with texting and cell phones. When a 6yr old is texting in school. WE HAVE A PROBLEM. the literacy rate of normal americans is dropping at an alarming rate but most people in the age group of 6-16 can tell you what LMAO, LOL, TTYL,BRB, and GTG means. Target the problem, not a beverage.
-Elf
-Normality is only the Absence of Indifference. -Elf
Did you know that this man is also the one who is proposing a 3% cut in educational spending that will result in over a 600$ increase in tuition for the univeristies. Try telling college students that their study “aids” and their education are getting more expensive at a faster rate than inflation and McDonald’s payraises.
-Elf
He wouldn’t know an obese person if he saw one!