Should New York Adopt An ‘Obesity Tax’?
EmailAs part of an extensive plan to combat the state’s daunting budget gap, New York Gov. David Paterson proposed an 18 percent tax on non-diet and all sugary juice drinks. The proposal, state officials say, would kill two birds with one stone: help get overweight New Yorkers in shape and raise much-needed funds for the state.
The plan, dubbed the "obesity tax" or "fat tax," calls for an additional charge on top of sales taxes for fruit drinks with less than 70 percent juice — including popular sport drinks like Powerade. Officials say that the tax could raise more than $400 million, but its main intention is to combat obesity.
A few other states have toyed with the idea of a soda tax with little success. Maine passed a similar measure on sodas to raise money for health care, but voters overwhelmingly overturned the tax. New Yorkers are no exception. Paterson’s proposal has sparked outrage from citizens and those in the soda-industry.
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Richard Daines turned to You Tube — an unconventional source for a government official — to convince the public that the tax will work wonders for state health care, not to mention personal waistlines.
In a quirky homemade video called "Soda vs. Milk," Daines defends the tax, holding up posters, and wheeling out a jar of sugar. Since it was posted a few days ago, it’s been watched over 17,000 times and 165 people have commented. Some of the comments are snarky. Check it out and weigh in here…
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Are they nuts??????Who the hell died and left them God.First smoking ,now anything with sugar,come on poeple this is or WAS a free country.
Posted by: indp voter | December 30, 2008, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm
Obesity tax in NY, Oregon wants to tax the miles you drive…why not just take all our money for the govt, and we will all just go live in a cave and eat worms. Stupid govt people, about time to tell all of them to take a hike.
Posted by: samhiguchi | December 30, 2008, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
I am usually one for personal responsibility, but if medical care costs go up for all of us because some or most people can’t control themselves and get too fat maybe a tax would deter ill-advised behavior.
However, I would rather see overweight folks pay their own medical bills and eat whatever they want. Too bad they won’t be able to afford it.
Posted by: Huh | December 30, 2008, 7:35 pm 7:35 pm
And you see, the truth behind it all is that they will become DEPENDENT on those taxes. So getting people to stop eating junk food and smoking will be the last thing they’d want.
I know whereof I speak. Our “beloved” idiot governor has become so dependent on the ridiculously high cigarette taxes in this state that the guv goes after 70+ year old smokers who legitimately buy outside the state, charging them for all the “lost” tax, 7k in one case. And how much does the guv spend doing that?? Including all the internet snooping that had to be done to find those horrible criminals.
Posted by: Laughing Cynic | December 30, 2008, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
With the likelyhood of even more socialist policies on the way this is just another gnawing away of our rights. Let people smoke as much as they want, let people get as fat as they want, and let those people alone suffer or enjoy the results of said choices.
Posted by: Dennis | December 30, 2008, 7:57 pm 7:57 pm
I think it is a brilliant idea to tax people for consuming whatever is self destructuve whether it be cigarettes, alcohol, sugary drinks and deep fried salty foods. Desperate times call for desperate measures but if in the process they achieve better health more power to the tax. While taxing to increase revenues and improve health how about taxing red meat, butter and whole milk shakes. Kill two birds with one stone improve the health of the nation while generating revenues to pay of budget deficits. I hope all the states latch on to this innovative way of keeping the nation healthy.
Posted by: gjkotw01 | December 30, 2008, 10:09 pm 10:09 pm
You have to be kidding me, right! Taxes never go down only up. Temporary taxes always become permanent. We raised taxes to build roads then the gov sold the roads to private ventures who turned around and made them toll roads. What part of “land of the free…” don’t you folks understand. If we’re just going to be a communist or socialist society can’t you see how well that worked for Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, etc., etc. Besides, money is tight right now and some of thsoe beverages are a whole lot cheaper than 70% natural fruit juices. How about government learn to manage their finances better instead of just taxing more and more. Another thing, does everyone pay the “fat tax” or only people that are fat? I thought so….
Posted by: Chief P | December 30, 2008, 10:29 pm 10:29 pm
This is ridiculous. Soda & sugary drinks are not the only things that cause people to be overweight. I am overweight & I don’t drink soda. I don’t drink sugared drinks. I rarely eat processed foods. People can become overweight on ANY food. Maybe the government should start regulating all the crap that gets put into processed food instead.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | December 30, 2008, 10:52 pm 10:52 pm
Yes, we should do away with individual liberties wherever they rear those ugly freedoms.
Posted by: Sluggo | December 30, 2008, 11:11 pm 11:11 pm
Actually, this is a GREAT idea! It’s too bad but it seems the govt. has to sometimes introduce laws as this to protect people from THEMSELVES and their own stupidity! If people would wake up and start taking responsibility for their own actions – what a great day that would be! Until then, I hope they’ll keep passing laws as this one. These sugary drinks and juices ARE a problem – especially when one has to consume several per day.
Posted by: M&M | December 30, 2008, 11:32 pm 11:32 pm
Don’t insult our intelligence. This has NOTHING to do with fighting obesity and has EVERYTHING to do with generating tax revenue for our economically devastated state of NY.
WE’RE not blind, Patterson!
(pun intended)
Posted by: Nick | December 31, 2008, 12:03 am 12:03 am
The fine people of New York should enjoy paying the sugar taxes. After all, they vote for tax loving Democrats then, complain the most. Just wait for the $1.00 a gallon, gas tax hike they are proposing and then, the coming carbon taxes!
Posted by: Mihann | December 31, 2008, 1:28 am 1:28 am
Yes as long as the money goes to healthcare costs.
Posted by: cinattra | December 31, 2008, 8:08 am 8:08 am
Sugary drinks are indeed a source of many extra calories per day.
Diet drinks are just as good.
Water is even better.
Tax it. It will help pay for the diabetes and hypertension cases that are skyrocketing in this nation.(hopefully)
Or – they’ll stop making these drinks.
It’s a win-win situation.
Posted by: sugar water is very taxing on one's body | December 31, 2008, 10:48 am 10:48 am
As citizens we complain about increasing taxes. However, who causes those inceasing taxes? We, the citizens, who want more and more from our goverment. The more we want; the more they supply. But we sure hate to pay for it.
Posted by: Lee | December 31, 2008, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
Did we forget all the money the states collected from the tobacco industry which was to be used for the medical expeneses for those suffering from smoking related illnesses?Instead,the funds went into the states tresury.What will NY do with the fat tax?That’s the answer I want.
Posted by: montysnowgoer | December 31, 2008, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
What will they tax next, the air we breath? Enough with the TAXES,it’s time to get rid of these idoits. they should be cutting spending instead of increasing TAXES
Posted by: Albert Shalhoub | December 31, 2008, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm
Give me a break. If they want to increase taxes on sugary drinks, fine, go ahead and do it, but stop pretending you care for us and it’s for our own good. Just call it what it is, just another tax, but don’t justify it by saying it will curb obesity and you care about us. If New York state really cared they wouldn’t be cutting the healthcare aid. Just a bunch of hypocrites.
Posted by: TG | December 31, 2008, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm
“If you drive a car I’ll tax the street
If you try to sit I’ll tax your seat
If you get too cold I’ll tax the heat
If you take a walk I’ll tax your feet
Tax man” – Lennon/McCartney
btw, make sure you New Yorkers declare the pennies on your eyes before it’s too late.
: o )
Posted by: Noz | December 31, 2008, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm
If the people in New York want to have an extra tax for the politicians to use for their own agenda, Fine! Let them vote for it. My problem here is the precedent it can set for more and more taxes on everything people enjoy, good for them or not. And if it passes, the precedent it will set for other states to adopt such taxes on an already burdened public.
Posted by: Ted | December 31, 2008, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
How about adding extra tax on 73/27 hamburger and ground beef over the 80/20? How about extra tax on pork over beef? Duck and goose over chicken? Don’t forget the burger joints fried pies and milk shakes. What about all the candy and pastries? Syrup for your pancakes? Jams, jellies, and preserves? Why not tax the sugar companies directly?
The government only wants to generate revenue to spend. With all the lottery tickets sold, why are the school systems having trouble?
With all the cigarette taxes, has a single family been awarded any compensation from the government for a tobacco related death or disablement?
And look at alcohol!! Known for a hundred years to cause death and all sorts of physical problems. Do you see the politicians raising taxes on the alcohol industry?
Get real! Look at Social Security! Every politician has taken money out and it’s going broke!
Posted by: Ted | December 31, 2008, 3:17 pm 3:17 pm
I don’t have kids in school—should I have to pay tax dollars to support YOUR kids? I take mass transportation to work each day–why should MY tax dollars go toward paying for roads you use to DRIVE to work every day? Does a serious disease run in your family? If so, hopefully if YOU get it…my tax dollars won’t end up having to pay for part of the bill! Bottom line? Lot’s of us are paying for things we would rather not pay for. Grow up….and be glad you’re still living in a (somewhat) free country!
Posted by: colleen | December 31, 2008, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
What’s with people on the east coast, New York especially. This guy makes me believe he in the scarecrow from the Wizard of OZ brought to life. IF I only had a brain! and still doesn’t.
Posted by: s63m | December 31, 2008, 11:27 pm 11:27 pm
I’m an former New Yorker and I left because you can not afford to live in New York. They tax too much and have bad schools.
New York just needs to stop spending on stuff they can’t afford and the fat asses just need to stop eating!
That has nothing to do with taxes!
In fact the US Govt needs to stop it! Everyplace we go as a Govt. we spend taxpayers money like a drunken salior.
Posted by: Willard Fentress | January 1, 2009, 7:00 am 7:00 am
It is not the governor or government’s responsibility to care for the health of its people!! You can inform them through teaching and training, but to tax them would be unconstitutional and totally wrong. If a person dies due to obesity, it’s his or her own fault. People die due to smoking and drinking. We live in a free America, but we are moving closer and closer to a dictatorship, because govt. wants to be in control of everything. If you remember; that’s what has made America so great — it’s wonderful freedom. People must live and die on his or her own merits. Govt. cannot and must not attempt to control its people. I believe much of the retaliation towards the govt. is the fault of govt. They are to set policies and procedures that help to make America a better place to live, not to bring greater hardship upon the ones they serve. When will govt. get their own closets clean, before they worry the closets of everyone else????? Maybe all the people ought to ban paying taxes all together, due to all the misappropriation of funds. When I don’t have the money in my check book, I don’t buy it until I do. When gov’t wants something more, (when they can’t pay for what they have), they just figure a way to take it from the honest and hard working people. When will govt. figure it out; it’s still “of the people, for the people and by the people”. When the people figure it out, the govt. won’t have a leg to stand on……………
Posted by: DWBead | January 1, 2009, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
“I am usually one for personal responsibility, but if medical care costs go up for all of us because some or most people can’t control themselves and get too fat maybe a tax would deter ill-advised behavior.”
———————————-
Are you kidding?????
Take a look at the taxes on tabacco products and alcohol. Oh Yeah, taxing those things has certainly changed the way people use them!!!
Why do liberals believe they have this so-called right to TAX HUMAN BEHAVIOR?
If they are so concerned with the well-being of people, why don’t they come out the legislation making tabacco & alcohol illegal? We all know the true answer for that one – You cant TAX an illegal product!
Whats next, taxing me if I eat more than one hot dog at a baseball game? Or a tax if I choose to buy a riding lawn mower instead of a push mower?
How much will Massachusetts tax big Ted Kennedy…or fatso Barney Frank???
It is incredible that the people of this country even tolerate this kind of an idea! It is this kind of governerment that our Revolutionary War was about. Our founding fathers NEVER wanted a goverment to be this intrusive into our daily lives.
Posted by: Mike_C | January 2, 2009, 11:17 am 11:17 am
I seem to remember a story some 200+ years ago about the great people of Massachusetts facing a tax on their TEA and they dumped it all into the harbor. When will the people of this country wake-up, band together and take a stand against this gov?
The people of NY need to get off their fat ##### and do something! Appointing another Kennedy will not change a thing!!
Posted by: taxed2death | January 4, 2009, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
Talk about the blind leading the blind!
I’d like to to see the makers of these ‘obesity’ drinks threaten to no longer sell these products in NY.
TAKE A STAND! MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Posted by: taxed2death | January 4, 2009, 4:41 pm 4:41 pm