Will having taxes on junk food prove to be beneficial for the overall health of this country? Or will people just stick to it 
and pay more? Adding taxes to everyday junk food will, in theory, lead to a healthier country. Exploring what could happen and why this is important is crucial to these counties overall well-being.
There was a study done that suggested that when a person buys a soda, then they are 30% more likely to become obese – which obviously increases the risk of heart disease and other health diseases (Blanding). Another point is that it’s cheap; making it more accessible. “While that may be the price on the sticker at the store, it doesn’t consider the cost to public health” (Blanding).
What’s the purpose of taxing junk food? To be healthier and having the option to pay a tax on something that know is bad for you, so you pay extra and then that money goes to something better, like public health. Junk food is everywhere. It’s on the television, it’s being advertised along the highways, on the internet, even in regular clothing stores. We might as well place a tax on it, that way we know we can spend that extra money on something better.
However, many individuals don’t think this is the answer. On a debate website, they posed this question and many who answered ‘no’ said statements like “Who’s going to be in charge of deciding what’s junk food” and ““Fat Taxes” Don’t Work” and “It’s dumb and useless” (Should there). Everyone has their own opinions; some more justified than others, but it’s worth trying out somewhere for a study.
One article says that “The potential upsides of taxes are big, though. If applied smartly, taxes might reduce the intake of junk food, with the side effect of making junk food healthier” (Sorrel). Another good reason for taxing junk food is it will generate a lot of extra dollars. The article quotes a report that states: “A penny-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would generate almost $10 billion annually in the United States” (Sorrel). That’s a lot of money that could be better spent on something useful for the U.S.
The main key to this problem is to figure out where to start. With soda or candy bars? Vending machines in general or fast food places? But, with this tax, it’s only one part of the whole issues at hand. Making this country healthier is no easy task. Taxes are just one tool that can be used. “Combined with things such as better education about healthful cooking, bans on advertising to kids, and creative uses for the extra tax revenue, taxes could shape how we eat and improve our health” (Sorrel).
To conclude, there are many people who think this is a good idea and some people who think it’s a bad idea and that it won’t change anything. To be fair, the U.S. should give it a try on something like soda. It will generate a lot of money that can be useful somewhere else and be a good reason to start getting people to think about their overall diets. It’s not the best alternative, but it’s a start.
References
Blanding, Michael. “Should We Tax Unhealthy Foods?” Tufts Now, 30 Mar. 2015, now.tufts.edu/articles/should-we-tax-unhealthy-foods.
“Should There Be a Tax on Junk Food?” Debate.org, www.debate.org/opinions/should-there-be-a-tax-on-junk-food.
Sorrel, Charlie. “We Should Tax Junk Food And Stop Advertising It To Kids.” Fast Company, Fast Company, 3 Mar. 2016, www.fastcompany.com/3057047/we-should-tax-junk-food-and-stop-advertising-it-to-kids.
