New York proposes the first universal fat tax.

In order to close a budget gap the big apple will be raising all sorts of taxes, and this one in particular caught my eye.

He would also impose an 18% tax on non-nutritional drinks like soda.

Most folks with their head screwed on straight recognized that sin taxes on cigarrettes in order to promote healthy lifestyles would lead to higher taxes on the poor and no improvement in their lifestyle.

This proved true, though the barrage of anti-smoking media have convinced kids that pot is a better alternative to cigarrettes...

It was also pondered how long until we got a fat tax? The answer is apparently now, after 10 years.

So we've got booze, cigarrettes, and coke. Barring the obvious extension to fast food and confectionary delights, what do you think is next?

I'm thinking caffeine.

I'm waiting for a tax on the Mafia-run industries.

Huh.  Why is concrete being poured around my shoes?

Yeah....we had a similar thread a couple days ago.  I finally just had to walk away from it.

But on a side note....I tend to feel the same as you on this subject.

id think id cry if they up taxes of caffine. Its just not fair. I will stay away from buying things in NY

I don't smoke, drink soda, drink much alcohol, or buy much fast food so my opinion is probably moot... but I think that these items are not necessary and are free game.  You have the right to choose to pay for one of these items.  As far as poor people being taxed... if they are so poor that taxing cigarettes and such is going to hurt them, they shouldn't be wasting money on those items to begin with.  Not smoking is free.  Tap water is free.  Hangover-free mornings are free.  And it's cheaper to buy food at the grocery store than to eat at a fast food place everyday.

But again, I'm not addicted to anything so I don't care that there are taxes on these items.  I can't say for sure, but if I was, I think that I would still say that sin taxes aren't a bad thing.

Then allow me to give you some perspective (from someone that is well-off, doesn't smoke, drink or eat much fast food, but has been around long enough to understand where this is going).

Wasting one's money is very subjective and definitely something you do not want politicians legislating.

Consumption taxes are inherently biased against poorer people. Adding $2.50 to a pack of cigarrettes is nothing to me, but what about that guy slogging through their miserable minimum wage life? Is there any reason to make life harder on them?

Either make it illegal (thereby creating a black market) or back off. But that would require more brass than ever owned by any politician I've noticed.

Likely candidates include, but are not limited to: caffeine, butter, cheese, bacon, anything high in cholesterol or fat, television, video games, non-educational books, anything that doesn't improve your body/mind... you get the point.

If you think I'm being unnecessarily alarmist, that's what people said when people asked what's next after cigarrettes, and now you know how that story went.

If they start taxing cheese I'll be in debtors prison in no time.

look up the thread "obesity tax"  there are some pretty good "debates" on that thread.

I think that food is already taxed as a sales tax. It makes no sense to double tax an item. Instead of adding more taxes to one area of food, how about raise the sales tax, then give a tax BREAK to certain "healthy" foods.

That would make more sense and provoke less conspiracy theories.

i agree lloydsev

Heh.  That's one thing I regret about moving to NY from MA...in MA, no tax on food (in the grocery store, anyway).