The New York Times reported today that Governor Paterson of New York State has proposed an 18 percent “fat” tax on regular soda drinks and fruit-flavored drinks that contain less than 70 percent real fruit juice. The proposed tax is part of the 2009 New York State budget beginning in April 2009 and it is estimated by state budget officials that the tax would bring in over $400 million dollars to state coffers in the first year while reducing regular soda consumption by about 5 percent.
Its an interesting pubic policy debate that is bound to be very controversial. Granted, the concept of taxing a product that may cause significant health issues such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes may have some basis in trying to shift the cost and the responsibility for those added health care costs onto the shoulders of those that make those less-than-stellar nutritional choices. However, in the bigger picture, I think without focusing on changing behavior, we won’t see a long-term positive impact from this tax.
If this tax on soda and fruit drinks passes, one has to wonder when the “candy bar” tax and “McDonalds/Fast Food” taxes will be passed.
At what point do we educate and reward people for making the right health and fitness choices? Comments…