[Villages PL]

Tax on sugary drinks approved in Berkeley; S.F. measure falls short - capitalgazette.com

My comment: When it gets to the point where healthy people have to subsidize healthcare for the unhealthy, then it's time to tax unhealthy habits.

[Villageswimmer]

Does anyone really believe that people who drink sugary drinks are going to stop because of a few cents tax?

[JB in TV]

I'm not commenting on pro or con... however, I wonder how free refills at most restaraunts are calculated into the tax?

[redwitch]

Not a biggie. There are lots of towns surrounding Bezerkley. Wouldn't add more than a mile or two to get sweet stuff without paying an additional tax.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by naneiben

Does anyone really believe that people who drink sugary drinks are going to stop because of a few cents tax?

Yes, I believe it will work. Sales nosedived in Mexico after the country began enforcing a similar measure this past January. And Mexico was one of the worlds biggest consumers of sugary drinks.

[JB in TV]

I think there is a big difference in the added tax's impact on a typical Mexican citizen and a Berkeley citizen.

[AJ32162]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

Tax on sugary drinks approved in Berkeley; S.F. measure falls short - capitalgazette.com

My comment: When it gets to the point where healthy people have to subsidize healthcare for the unhealthy, then it's time to tax unhealthy habits.

Why not just cut to the chase and tax fat people?

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by redwitch

Not a biggie. There are lots of towns surrounding Bezerkley. Wouldn't add more than a mile or two to get sweet stuff without paying an additional tax.

According to AAA's 2013 driving cost study, the average cost of owning and operating a car is 60.8 cents per mile.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by AJ32162

Why not just cut to the chase and tax fat people?

How would that work? It sounds complicated.

[AJ32162]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

How would that work? It sounds complicated.

Perhaps a mandatory national weigh in the day after Thanksgiving and those exceeding the recommended BMI be taxed by the pound.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by AJ32162

Why not just cut to the chase and tax fat people?

Originally Posted by AJ32162

Perhaps a mandatory national weigh in the day after Thanksgiving and those exceeding the recommended BMI be taxed by the pound.

It sounds like a great plan. And then, after the mandatory weigh in, Big Brother could put chips in our brains to reduce our BMI.

[AJ32162]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

It sounds like a great plan. And then, after the mandatory weigh in, Big Brother could put chips in our brains to reduce our BMI.

If I'm not mistaken, that idea has already been proposed by Jonathan Gruber.

[Moderator]

Please, let's get back to the original topic....

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by JB in TV

I think there is a big difference in the added tax's impact on a typical Mexican citizen and a Berkeley citizen.

Yes, people who know better than to drink sugary drinks in the first place won't be impacted by a tax.

[rubicon]

No one on this thread believes this is government overreach?????

We are quickly approaching Big Brotherism and I not talking bout the television reality show.