MS Bill seeks ‘sin’ tax on soft drinks

[Full Quiver]

Governments are looking to tax things like soft drinks and candy for the same reason that they tax entertainment (NC has all three taxes) and that is revenue. They aren't worried about people's weight and health. They know that soft drinks and candy sell and will sell regardless and they see an easy avenue to more revenue. Why do they tax entertainment? Is it unhealthy to be entertained?

I remember the first time I took the entire Page clan to dinner when we moved to NC. It was a Mexican joint and the prices on the menu were basically the same as any other Mexican eatery. When I got the bill it was like reading my phone bill. Tax after tax and the price was definitely different than what I expected. Initially I didn't look at the taxes but grabbed a menu to see what had happened. After checking to see that all the prices were correct I saw the entertainment tax and soft drink tax as well as the sales tax.

[Mike Vande]

Will that tax apply to diet soft drinks and no- or low-sugar candies and pastry?

[Paully_44]

Will that tax apply to diet soft drinks and no- or low-sugar candies and pastry?

Out here in Washington St, they are considering taxing all gum & candy, expecting to raise an additional $28mill annually.

[MacUser]

Will that tax apply to diet soft drinks and no- or low-sugar candies and pastry?

Good Question. I guess this could be a tax model?

Governor Paterson proposes 'Obesity Tax,' a tax on non-diet sodas
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/200 ... x_a-1.html

This means a Diet Coke might sell for a $1 - even as the same size bottle of its calorie-rich alter ego would go for $1.15.

[MacUser]

Wow.. I guess this is going to be Federal Tax + Local State?

Coca-Cola looks to pre-empt 'soda tax'
http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/94205 ... -soda-tax/


Coca-Cola is planning an advertising campaign to educate consumers about nutrition in an attempt to derail plans to introduce a soft drinks tax.

Earlier this month US health experts proposed a federal tax on sweetened drinks, energy drinks, sports beverages and juice drinks in a bid to tackle the obesity crisis

The proposals are being debated in congress. It is estimated the tax would raise around $15bn, allowing the government to use revenue generated by the tax to fund Barack Obama’s healthcare reforms.

In response Coca-Cola has announced it is planning to launch a "multi-faceted" advertising campaign promoting the idea of a balanced diet and the need to burn off as many calories as are consumed.

A Coca-Cola spokeswoman said: "The threat of the soft drink tax shows the need to educate consumers about what we were already doing in this area."

When the proposals were made Coca-Cola chairman and chief executive described the idea of a soft drinks tax as "outrageous".

He said: "I have never seen it work where a government tells people what to eat and what to drink. If it worked, the Soviet Union would still be around."


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I guess everyone get ready for the Obama Cola? Instead of "This is it"... I dub it.. "This ISN'T it".

[dolfan]

I heart plastic.

[Pastor Gary]

I would drive extra miles or even into a different town to avoid that at all possible.

Do you shop at Sam's Club or Costco? Neither of them have EVER provided any kind of bags, and people manage. We carry some big heavy duty bags made of Tyvek in the back of our Jeep, roll the cart out to the car, pack the stuff in those bags and head home.

No problem at all.

[MacUser]

We carry some big heavy duty bags made of Tyvek in the back of our Jeep, roll the cart out to the car, pack the stuff in those bags and head home.

No problem at all.

Humm.. If you like it.. that's great. Question: What if you decided at the last minute to swing by to grab some groceries because your wife called you and/or sent you a quick list on the iphone while visiting? No bags or wrong vehicle - out of luck. Now you have to drive back home and back to the store. Bummer. I'm sure Wal-Mart wouldn't like missing those impulse sales.

Also.. bulk places like Sam's Club and others large item retailers... sell larger packed items. You can't get one stick of beef jerky.. but the entire case or family pack etc. At your local Wal-Mart you can buy; one stick of butter, small pack of screws, nail files/polish, small pack of batteries, or individual candies etc etc.

Then.. The Wally World buggies are just not designed to handle some of that small stuff and it can be easily lost if not careful. Imagine banging that across the pavement losing items along the way.. or worse trying to load that during a torrential steady rain storm. Zowie.

Imagine the flooding rain storm again. You would have to be prepared with a super large umbrella and shopping bags going into the store? No impulse buying again.. bummer for Wal-Mart. You might just decide to shop at Dollar General.. where they offer free bags for quick loading during that downpour.

I remember when it was wood that was the problem with the paper bag and the manufactured crisis made you switch to plastic. Now they are rejecting the manufactured crisis fix because of the dangerous plague of plastic.

Ridiculous my brother. Offer incentives to recycle or fine the litter bugs and leave the rest of America alone.

[MacUser]

I heart plastic.

I think they need to make SUPER large plastic bags with space age expanding webbing and drawstrings. Then you could pack more stuff into one large bag!

Just imagine..