Soda Tax or Behavior Tax?

Taxing high calorie drinks and junk foods is not a practical solution to the problem of obesity in the United States. This behavior does not help motivate high-income people to control the ability to lower excessive consumption of calories, which has a more punitive effect on people of low-income brackets. Our government can take other measures to encourage positive behavior, such as increasing the availability of public greenways and other sports facilities.

In 2017, Cook County of Illinois (including counties including Chicago) taxed soda, including slimming soda, as a sweet drinking tax. I do not understand why they contain weight loss soda; diet soda does not cause caries, diabetes, weight gain or other measurable health risks. The Chicago Tribune wrote as follows. "The Cook County Council President's Tony Plake Wink has confirmed that most of us are skeptical.

Supporters of soda tax quote a successful interpretation of the worldwide tobacco tax on why they believe that soda tax helps to reduce the consumption of soda. If the main concern is tobacco, the main problem with soda is diabetes and obesity. The strategy used for soda corporate soda tax mimics the strategy of tobacco companies, including funding research that underestimates the health risks of its products. The US Department of Health and Human Services reported that the target tax on sugar in soda water in the first year could create $ 14.9 billion. The US Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that more than $ 24 billion in taxes will be incurred in 4 years for every 4 ounce tax revenue. Some tax laws require income to meet the relevant health needs. Improve meals, increase physical activity, prevent obesity, promote nutritional education, health care reform etc.

In most cases, however, the term "soda tax" does not refer to general consumption tax but rather represents special consumption tax based on soda, including sugar, and other sugar drinks. While Tennessee and Virginia impose total tax on manufacturers and distributors of soda, Arkansas and West Virginia currently charge excise duties on soda and other bottled beverages. These taxes are not based on the sugar content and do not indicate the impact on public health like the consumption tax of sweetened beverages with sugar. Consumption tax is based on quantity, not price. For soda tax, consumption tax is taxed at a higher rate than normal consumption tax. Currently, there are only two types of sugar drinking tax issued by the US, one cents per ounce in Berkeley, California, 1.5 cents per ounce in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.