Soda Tax Proposed in San Francisco (fight fat by taxing soda pop)

[The Straight Story]

Soda Tax Proposed in San Francisco
Written by Elizabeth Bishop, Senior Internet News Producer


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom wants to fight fat by taxing soda pop.

Newsom is asking his staff to draft a law that would tax large grocery stores for stocking Coke, Pepsi and other drinks sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. A spokesman for the mayor says the details are still be worked out including the size of the fee.

City officials say there's a direct link between sweet drinks and obesity, which puts a strain on the public health system.

http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=36434

[FreeState]

1. Yeah because the cigarette tax sure stopped people from smoking! n/t

[monmouth]

7. You took the words right off of my keyboard...n/t

[lvx35]

2. That's an interesting one to justify

If they can show that the health risks cost society, and the tax goes to repairing that damage, maybe I can get behind it. But I am a little nervous about the government having a financial stake in our vices...Imagine a federal defense program where if too many people quit smoking or drinking soda an aspect of our national defense is compromised.

[ThePowerofWill]

3. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Who's the tax gonna effect most? Folks with the least money. A couple cents may not matter much to someone financially well placed.

Such sin taxes place restriction on the least fortunate among us, while the well off deal with a very minor nuisances. Just kinda unfair. Then you have to look at the fact the city will become dependant on the money, and what happens when folks buy less soda?

A good promotional strategy coupled with nutritional education, and readily available alternatives sounds like a much smarter idea.

[Bluestar]

4. Why not tax the evil food companies who put all those additives

in our food that cause our bodies to malfunction, causing hypertension, obesity, diabetes, etc.? That in turn requires us to need more health care and medications where they make even more money. I am so tired of the victims paying the price for the money-hungry bastards who perpetrate this fraud on the public.

[slackmaster]

5. I'm sure retailers in surrounding cities are enthusiastic about this plan

More Kabuki Theater from the city.

[Auggie]

6. There are more pressing issues in S.F. than this Gavin... (butthead)

[jpgray]

8. Don't forget on top of all else that's a regressive tax.

[SammyWinstonJack]

9. Priorities!

:silly: Screw Universal Health Care for EVERYONE! :banghead: More taxes! Yep! That's the ticket! :argh: