Sin Tax: A Solution to Obesity?

If you want to indulge yourself with chocolate today, would you still get it if the tax was higher? That is what the government is proposing to do: tax junk, fast, and fat foods because they may lead to obesity and other health issues. This type of tax is often referred to as a sin tax, which is "a sponsor tax that is added to products or services that are seen as vices such as, alcohol and gambling” (citation). One controversy to this issue is how does one determine what products are considered high in fat or sugar. Also, since healthy food is more costly, a sin tax on unhealthy foods is a difficult goal. To make this tax possible, the government would also have to decrease the price of healthy and fresh food such as fruits and vegetables.

Some people abuse of the consumption of food when it should be consider a necessity. For example, when they are depressed, they find comfort in food, this results in obesity. Increasing the price of junk food might bring conscience to the consumer and can be persuaded to make healthier decisions. It is known that people with obesity are victims of discrimination. As a matter of fact, people with obesity are prone to develop cardiovascular problems, diabetes, and back problems. Under those circumstances, it is easier to do a change in habits rather than find a treatment for their condition. For this reason, increasing the price of fat, fast and sugary products is a positive change. In the long run, it will cost less to increase the price of the products rather than paying for treatments for health conditions when sometimes, health insurance do not cover in full for such

The Governor of New York David Paterson suggested “an eighteen percent sales taxes on soft drinks and other non-diet sugary beverages to help raise four hundred million a year to plug a hole in the state budget.” The sales that sin tax collects can be used towards implementing better sources to help and to educate people with vices. Another way that an increase in taxes on junk food would be useful would be to fairly cover for medical services and health insurance. Reducing the price of health insurance would make it available to more people. Also, having an increase in the price of the products are not beneficial health could be a reduction to healthy products such as vegetables and fruits, that would help reinforce good eating