"The cost of this item just went up $0.25, do you still want to buy it?"

[colorfulshadows]

Am I alone in thinking this oft suggested "tax" on "sugar-sweetened beverages" as a deterrent is kinda silly? Has any study or statistic proven that additional taxes on alcohol or tobacco has had any significant impact on stopping either behavior? I pretty much always assumed it was just another way to increase the coffers. I mean, the public is

Comments

[stormcloude]

Hee! I really love diet soda and I'm grateful for two things: the tax doesn't include them and I live on the opposite coast.

The thing is if I thought all these health warnings pertained to diet sodas too, I don't know if I'd give them up, but cost would make me cut down and only buy them when they're on sale-- well, that's what I do now too. I just think that people need to eat healthier in general and sodas are a symptom, not the cause. When Kraft Mac 'n cheese or ramen is cheaper than a piece of fruit... that's the problem. Fast food nation indeed.

[yaoichick]

Yep, there's a definite spin on the reason for that tax.

When the states got money from the tobacco companies years ago, Illinois divided it up and sent checks to the taxpayers rather than putting the money into healthcare/education. What a waste!

I treat myself to a pop when I'm on vacation, but it's usually only 1. Mostly I'm happy with water and coffee, but the occasional fizzy drink is very nice. I've taken to buying no-cal soda water and adding that to juice (which I don't drink often).

Mmm... root beer.

Diet pop is evil, and studies suggest it contributes to obesity and heart disease. Yikes!

[kodalai]

Tell them you're doing it for their health and you'll get "Fuck that! I'm doing what I want and if I want to drink this sugar ladened, caffeinated drink, I'm gunna!"

Maybe that's their masterful plan?

The best I could do for myself, was to switch from Coke to Sprite. I wanted to get off caffienated beverages; I was developing too much of a tolerance for the drug and that's not good when you really need to kick yourself in the ass to get started in the morning. :P Clear sodas also have the benefit of not staining your teeth brown (is that a thing Coke does? I have no idea.) but I don't pretend they're anything like healthy.