New York planning ‘fat tax’ on drinks

ONATHAN KARL
London Telegraph
Tuesday, Dec 16, 2008

If Governor David Paterson’s plan becomes law, consumers would pay more for non-diet versions of drinks such as Coca-Cola, the New York Times reported.

Gov Paterson is proposing the potential 15 per cent tax to help close a budget deficit of $15bn and improve the health of people living in the state.

Mr Paterson has said he will not raise state income tax but added: ‘You can’t tax $50 billion on New York’s wealthiest residents. You are going to have to take it from other places and hopefully, if there were to be an income tax, it would be at the end of the process, not the beginning.’

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Well here we go. It's now time for new taxes and it seems like the fat people are the new targets. As we all know, fast food is going to be next. I wouldn't be surprised if this is just a test balloon for that eventuality. If the public buy this tripe, the government can justify the fast food thing.

Also to be noted, they will get tons of monies from fast food and claim it will go for health care when us informed people here on ATS know that most of the monies will end up in the lawyers pockets before it's over.

In my opinion this is just another cheap shot at the public by making them believe that health care is going to get cheaper now that they are going after obese people and the evil fast food the feeds them.

Simply unbelievable!

how interesting that they would tax items which would inevitably herd people into drinking more products with ASPARTAME>..

Originally posted by wolf241e
Well here we go. It's now time for new taxes and it seems like the fat people are the new targets.

I think its important to get some perspective on this ...

Just because its not a DIET DRINK, does not mean that the people who drink it are fat ...

I know plenty of people who detest Diet Coke, and who swear by the normal stuff - and don't have an ounce of fat on them. And vica versa.

Furthermore I don't see it as fat people being a target at all. I see it as a good way to encourage people to be more healthy, I see no issue or problem with that in the slightest.

I find a real issue when horrible drinks such as Coke are cheaper than water!

Think for example if there was no tax on cigarettes. They kill you, fact. A lot of people (in England, I don't know about you guys in the states) are put off buy the price, of which a great deal is tax, and so buy less or none at all - that is not a bad thing in the slightest, actually quite the opposite!

Then they have to find a way to get those of us that are not fat to get out money back. Just another line on the tax form .

mikell