Obesity Tax... At What Cost?

By Dr. Evelyn Higgins

New York Governor Paterson proposed an 18 percent sales tax on non-diet soda and juice drinks in an effort to reduce the state's budget deficit. The tax would not affect bottled water, diet soda, coffee, tea or milk and is estimated to raise more than $400 million in its first year. So we had the usual complaints from the people. First, government should not be involved with personal behavior such as what people eat. The beverage industry also says the proposal would harm industry jobs in New York. New York sees an easy way to raise money and other states will follow. New York is far from the most obese state, so this could raise considerable revenue for other states. In reality, government has already been intimately involved in what we eat in negative ways. For instance, by allowing sugar laden beverages to be promoted in schools or by failing to restrict marketing of unhealthy foods to children. To me, the issue is deeper than the obvious. It is the risks associated with the diet sodas. The water is a wonderful idea! Aspartame is considered to be about 200 times as sweet as sugar. It is calorie free. Aspartame in reality is a poison... [more...]