Taxing Soda to Take on Obesity in New York City
One in four New Yorkers is obese, and soda is America’s hottest scapegoat. New York City may implement an 18 percent sales tax on soda and sugary drinks in the name of reducing obesity and raising money for health programs.
This proposal has sparked debate about the the efficacy of the tax and the potential harm to businesses. According to the New York Times, this tax would decrease soda consumption by 5 percent and would raise over $400 million per year.
