New York is expensive – and becoming more so if you like regular soft drinks (also known as non-diet sodas). We salute Governor Paterson, who just proposed an ‘obesity’ tax of approximately 15% on non-diet drinks. This is part of a $121 billion budget unveiled Tuesday, in which Gov. Paterson described as “difficult” to make these decisions – but the obesity tax will help, expecting to generate $404 million a year. Milk, juice, bottled water, and diet soda are exempt from this tax.
So what’s the bottom line? Some people will choose to pay $1.15 for a coke instead of the $1 alternative diet coke. Some will switch drink preferences, and some will abstain from regular soda and the extra cost. Elie Ward of the American Academy of Pediatrics of New York State put it this way: “Raising the price of this liquid candy will put children and teens on a path to a healthier diet." We’re INCREDIBLY excited to see this happen as we think it will prompt much healthier choices, either due to learning about wellness or just tight pocketbooks. We look forward to covering the impact on obesity and whether it deters adults – not only the younger population – from purchasing regular soft drinks. And, at the end of the day, we notice it is New York again who is being progressive and stepping up to the plate to try new things to combat the rising obesity epidemic. Who else in the U.S. is willing to step up? Here’s hoping California is next …
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