Comments on: Should soft drinks be taxed and be called a public health hazard? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/09/soft-drinks-taxed-called-public-health-hazard.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Mikehttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/09/soft-drinks-taxed-called-public-health-hazard.html#comment-112865 Mike Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:53:15 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40310#comment-112865 With all due respect to the authors, my very first thought when reading this was the naiveté evident in Dr Ludwig's statement:' “It’s government, not industry, that determines taxation rates,” Ludwig said. “The government’s primary responsibility is to the public.” 'I'm not sure of the number or sizes of the lobbies that would bring to bear multi-millions of dollars to counter such an effort. However, I have little doubt they would be sufficient to kill this for some time to come, the current debate on health [care || insurance] reform notwithstanding. How willing does Dr. Ludwig think legislators from Georgia, the home of one of the word's largest cola companies, would be to support a tax on that company's primary products. With all due respect to the authors, my very first thought when reading this was the naiveté evident in Dr Ludwig’s statement:

‘ “It’s government, not industry, that determines taxation rates,” Ludwig said. “The government’s primary responsibility is to the public.” ‘

I’m not sure of the number or sizes of the lobbies that would bring to bear multi-millions of dollars to counter such an effort. However, I have little doubt they would be sufficient to kill this for some time to come, the current debate on health [care || insurance] reform notwithstanding. How willing does Dr. Ludwig think legislators from Georgia, the home of one of the word’s largest cola companies, would be to support a tax on that company’s primary products.

]]> By: jsmithhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/09/soft-drinks-taxed-called-public-health-hazard.html#comment-112643 jsmith Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:56:05 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40310#comment-112643 Bad idea. People should be free to abuse themselves if they aren't directly hurting others. Maybe we should all re-read Mill's "On Liberty." Moreover, there is no good evidence that shows that good health habits save society money in the long run. Indded, there is some evidence that sickies cost society less money because they die earlier. So making them pay sin taxes in the meantime is quite unjust. Bad idea. People should be free to abuse themselves if they aren’t directly hurting others. Maybe we should all re-read Mill’s “On Liberty.” Moreover, there is no good evidence that shows that good health habits save society money in the long run. Indded, there is some evidence that sickies cost society less money because they die earlier. So making them pay sin taxes in the meantime is quite unjust.

]]> By: irb123http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/09/soft-drinks-taxed-called-public-health-hazard.html#comment-112636 irb123 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:35:42 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40310#comment-112636 I don't have a problem taxing anything that contributes to the higher burden these issues cause to the health care system overall. The "sin" taxes can help mitigate the costs that "sinners" cause to society. Ride a motorcycle, higher taxes for taking a risk that will likely lead to thousands of dollars in extra health care costs to society. Eat fast food, pay a fast food tax for the obesity/atherosclerosis that occurs which increase the "health care insurance base" for all americans. Smoking/alcohol/marijuana. Make/keep it legal, and tax it. Soft drinks (all-diet&non diet since diet sodas have nutrasweet which has been shown to lead to all kinds of health problems) - tax them. Don't forget sugary drinks like Kool-aid. I realize the net for foods that are bad for you is large, but since eating poorly increases the cost of insurance for everybody, taxing it and using the money to defray these high costs is not a horrible idea.Of course, the slippery slope is that when will it end? Will chocolate bars be taxed? How about french restaurants? Pizza places? The taxing potential is limitless. What is considered healthy?The issues are not as cut and dry as they appear. But I do think "sin" taxes have some merit. The just require more specific consideration than occur currently. I don’t have a problem taxing anything that contributes to the higher burden these issues cause to the health care system overall. The “sin” taxes can help mitigate the costs that “sinners” cause to society. Ride a motorcycle, higher taxes for taking a risk that will likely lead to thousands of dollars in extra health care costs to society. Eat fast food, pay a fast food tax for the obesity/atherosclerosis that occurs which increase the “health care insurance base” for all americans. Smoking/alcohol/marijuana. Make/keep it legal, and tax it. Soft drinks (all-diet&non diet since diet sodas have nutrasweet which has been shown to lead to all kinds of health problems) – tax them. Don’t forget sugary drinks like Kool-aid. I realize the net for foods that are bad for you is large, but since eating poorly increases the cost of insurance for everybody, taxing it and using the money to defray these high costs is not a horrible idea.

Of course, the slippery slope is that when will it end? Will chocolate bars be taxed? How about french restaurants? Pizza places? The taxing potential is limitless. What is considered healthy?

The issues are not as cut and dry as they appear. But I do think “sin” taxes have some merit. The just require more specific consideration than occur currently.

]]> By: Taxing Sugary Drinks? « Uncommon Dissenthttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/09/soft-drinks-taxed-called-public-health-hazard.html#comment-112605 Taxing Sugary Drinks? « Uncommon Dissent Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:45:52 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40310#comment-112605 [...] a comment » Today KevinMD discussed the article published online today at the New England Journal of Medicine about imposing a tax on [...] [...] a comment » Today KevinMD discussed the article published online today at the New England Journal of Medicine about imposing a tax on [...]

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