PUBLIC OPINION > Sugar Should Not Be Taxed
SodaHead News
2012/02/07 17:44:03
In an attempt to kill two birds with one stone (the deficit bird and the obesity bird) some scholars have suggested the government start taxing sugar. It could easily generate billions of dollars, and simultaneously discourage the over-consumption of a product that has played a big part of the obesity epidemic. They're saying it would be kind of like the excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol. But sugar isn't just in soda and cotton candy. It's a diverse product, and it would essentially affect everyone. We asked SodaHeads if it sounded like a good idea.
Should Sugar Be Taxed?
83% Said Absolutely Not
Alright, don't toss the Pepsi overboard just yet. The tax hasn't been passed, but if it does you can expect to see some infuriated American folks. Even the "Yes" votes were a little bit timid, and there was nary an uncertain comment on the "No" side. Some respondents noted that sugar prices are already higher than they are in most countries, suggesting it would be an unnecessary tax that negatively impacts the wrong people -- the buyers.
Teens Want Tax-Free Sugar
It should come as no surprise that younger voters were most adamant about keeping those sugar prices down. Maybe it was that part about doubling the price of soda. Two dollars for a can of sugar water? Outrageous! We're already a little peeved that the vending machines around here have been for a dollar and a quarter.
Progressives Push for It
There were very few demographics that sided with the tax. Liberals were more likely to support it than conservatives, but they still only came in at about 30%. Progressives, on the other hand, had no problem with the idea. Some argued that sugar shouldn't be taxed as a whole, but rather we should follow in France's footsteps -- tax a few cents on soda and leave it at that.
Love Handles Are More Likely to Tax
We haven't really touched on the obesity factor much, so we checked out the breakdown by weight. Results show that users who selected the highest weight class ("Love handles") were actually more likely to support the tax. Not by much, though. Just 4% more than "Slim" voters.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our original poll about taxing sugar. We'd love to hear from you!
Largely as a result, obesity and Type II diabetes have skyrocketed in the US over the past 20 years since these policies have been in effect.
When you create marketplace distortions, they almost always have unintended consequences and these consequences are almost universally negative.
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Stop subsidizing it, then giving it away, and stop taxing us while GIVING the foreigners a major price break on it.
How about the FEd do aomething NICE for taxpayers for a change.
Probably a subsistence diet-cornbread, collards and chicken on Sundays.