As a generation of teenagers who eat large quantities of candy and junk food, and drink lots of soda, many of us would oppose such a concept. However, eating in this way can be just as, if not more unhealthy than smoking. The problem is that a meal at McDonald’s is much cheaper than a healthy, well-balanced meal. Many Americans feel inclined to eat the cheaper meal. Why not charge a small tax on unhealthy foods and use the money to make healthy foods cheaper? Perhaps some of the money could be used to advertise fruits and vegetables.
According to a Business Week Online News Flash, the average child sees 10,000 food commercials a year, and 95% of them are for junk food and sugared cereals. It is no surprise that children are eating more and more unhealthy food. If this food was beyond children’s budgets, they would be less likely to eat it. Cigarette sales are reduced when the taxes on cigarettes increase. Junk food is just as much an addiction as cigarettes.
Kelly Brownell, a professor at Yale University and an advocate for the Twinkie tax, explains why this would be a step in the right direction. “The idea would be to make high butterfat chocolate-chocolate chip ice cream more expensive relative to low-fat yogurt in the hopes that more Americans would reach for the yogurt.” Other proponents of this tax do not feel that it would have a significant impact on sales, but rather just want the government to obtain revenue to use for national nutrition education programs.
The economic cost of diseases caused by unhealthy food and overeating is estimated at $71 billion. If people were to be financially forced into eating more healthfully, this health-care burden would be lifted from taxpayers.
Many states charge a five-cent deposit on soda and alcoholic beverage cans and bottles, which is refunded when the can or bottle is returned to the store for recycling. The Twinkie tax follows a similar concept. If people do what they should be doing, they do not have to pay anything. These taxes are both punishments and fundraisers.
The California state legislature is considering charging a two-cent tax (in addition to the five-cent recycling deposit) on every can of soda sold. This would raise an estimated $350 million per year. This tax is not meant to discourage people from buying soda - two cents per can does not make a difference to most people - but is rather intended only as a means of generating revenue for programs to fight childhood obesity. Most advocates for the tax agree that it is best to start on the state level, where there are higher chances of success.
This tax must be brought to the every state. Money needs to be spent to educate people on how to make healthful eating choices, and this tax is a perfect way to obtain those funds. We, as residents of the United States, must inform our legislators of the importance of such programs. Write to your state assembly people and state senators, as well as your governor to encourage that this tax is created. It is for the betterment of our nation's health, and it will set a precedent for the rest of the world.
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