Taxes on Sugary Drinks and Junk Food Are Expanding
It’s been called the "obesity tax", "junk food tax", and "fat tax", and even more states are now tacking on a little extra levy on unhealthy food and beverages to slim the waistlines of Americans and try to expand skinny state budgets during economic strains.
We first mentioned the obesity tax in our February post, "Sugary Beverages May Carry 'Obesity Tax'", which told about a 15% tax being worked out for the state of New York and then again in May when it was mentioned that U.S. Senate was drafting a solution to increasing healthcare costs which included a nationwide "fat tax." Today, the idea to tax unhealthy foods and beverages is gaining steam and more states are adopting it, nearly three dozen to be exact.
On Sept. 1, Illinois became the newest state to add a tax on foods deemed as "unhealthy choices." The state’s new taxes vary by type of food and by location. For example, a sugary energy drink will be taxed 6.25% across the state, but beverages classified as soft drinks in Chicago will carry a tax of 14.25%.
Across the nation backers of the "obesity tax" suggest that it could help offset the estimated $147 billion cost of treating this health epidemic, while critics argue that the route a healthy nation is education, exercise and balanced diets. Any way you look at it, our nation needs to make better choices when it comes to food and drink.
Every week more than 4 million people choose 5-Hour Energy shots instead the sugar-packed alternatives. With zero sugar and only 4 calories, 5-Hour gives you the energy you need void of fillers and void of the "obesity tax."
Sources:
http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSTRE5806E520090901?rpc=64
http://bit.ly/AORu4
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/nyregion/17sugartax.html?_r=3
We first mentioned the obesity tax in our February post, "Sugary Beverages May Carry 'Obesity Tax'", which told about a 15% tax being worked out for the state of New York and then again in May when it was mentioned that U.S. Senate was drafting a solution to increasing healthcare costs which included a nationwide "fat tax." Today, the idea to tax unhealthy foods and beverages is gaining steam and more states are adopting it, nearly three dozen to be exact.
On Sept. 1, Illinois became the newest state to add a tax on foods deemed as "unhealthy choices." The state’s new taxes vary by type of food and by location. For example, a sugary energy drink will be taxed 6.25% across the state, but beverages classified as soft drinks in Chicago will carry a tax of 14.25%.
Across the nation backers of the "obesity tax" suggest that it could help offset the estimated $147 billion cost of treating this health epidemic, while critics argue that the route a healthy nation is education, exercise and balanced diets. Any way you look at it, our nation needs to make better choices when it comes to food and drink.
Every week more than 4 million people choose 5-Hour Energy shots instead the sugar-packed alternatives. With zero sugar and only 4 calories, 5-Hour gives you the energy you need void of fillers and void of the "obesity tax."
Sources:
http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSTRE5806E520090901?rpc=64
http://bit.ly/AORu4
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/nyregion/17sugartax.html?_r=3
Labels: 5-Hour Energy, energy drinks, energy shots, obesity tax
Posted
on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 9:10 AM.
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