Junk Food Tax
Junk Food Tax
The current issue of junk food consumption and the overall obesity battle in America continues to plague our nation. The suggestion to counteract this problem is the implementation of a “junk tax”. ProQuest states that, “’junk food tax’ refers to a tax placed upon fattening foods or beverages” (Par. 1). The intention of the tax is to minimize the consumption of unhealthy foods, which would expectantly lead to a healthier population. A junk food tax would also generate revenue for causes such as: improving diet, preventing obesity, and educating Americans about nutrition. The main purpose is to maximize health benefits. However, the tax has sparked controversy about interfering with freedom of choice and personal liberties.
Fighting obesity and its various related illnesses does not require cholesterol lowering medicine, workout videos, or diet books. It starts with rethinking our setting and the world we are living in. Addressing the issue of over-weight and the lack of health in America is no easy assignment, “despite some individual efforts by some states to tax soda pop, require healthier school lunches of mandate calorie information in chain restaurants, obesity rates in the United States are growing” (Cummins Par. 10). Even though these efforts have continued to grow with parents and health advocates the problem needs to be acknowledged nation wide because, “60 percent of Americans of either overweight or obese” (Cummins Par. 5). With many restaurants offering super sized meals for such low prices, people consume well over the recommended calorie and food intake. Fast food restaurants being open twenty-four hours a day located on every corner causes temptation to be all around consumers. Cummins states that, “a 100 percent tax on junk food and beverages would help pay for the collateral damages of this industry: the $150 billion in diet-related diseases and health-care costs now incurred by the public and taxpayers for obesity and diabetes”
The current issue of junk food consumption and the overall obesity battle in America continues to plague our nation. The suggestion to counteract this problem is the implementation of a “junk tax”. ProQuest states that, “’junk food tax’ refers to a tax placed upon fattening foods or beverages” (Par. 1). The intention of the tax is to minimize the consumption of unhealthy foods, which would expectantly lead to a healthier population. A junk food tax would also generate revenue for causes such as: improving diet, preventing obesity, and educating Americans about nutrition. The main purpose is to maximize health benefits. However, the tax has sparked controversy about interfering with freedom of choice and personal liberties.
Fighting obesity and its various related illnesses does not require cholesterol lowering medicine, workout videos, or diet books. It starts with rethinking our setting and the world we are living in. Addressing the issue of over-weight and the lack of health in America is no easy assignment, “despite some individual efforts by some states to tax soda pop, require healthier school lunches of mandate calorie information in chain restaurants, obesity rates in the United States are growing” (Cummins Par. 10). Even though these efforts have continued to grow with parents and health advocates the problem needs to be acknowledged nation wide because, “60 percent of Americans of either overweight or obese” (Cummins Par. 5). With many restaurants offering super sized meals for such low prices, people consume well over the recommended calorie and food intake. Fast food restaurants being open twenty-four hours a day located on every corner causes temptation to be all around consumers. Cummins states that, “a 100 percent tax on junk food and beverages would help pay for the collateral damages of this industry: the $150 billion in diet-related diseases and health-care costs now incurred by the public and taxpayers for obesity and diabetes”
Cited: Cummins, Ronnie. “Tax on Junk Food Can Help Pay the Costs of Diet-Related Diseases.” McClatchy Newspapers. 10 May 2012: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 15 Oct 2012. Morris, Andrew P. “’Bad-Food’ Taxes Will Clog Our Economic Arteries Beyond Repair.” McClatchy Newspapers. 10 May 2012: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 15 Oct 2012. ProQuest staff. “At Issue: Junk Food Tax.” ProQuest LLC. 2012: n.pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 15 Oct 2012.