greenlight
Support soda tax, oppose flavored tobacco ban by Jeff vonKaenel
je ffv @ ne wsr e v ie w.c o m
However, I do not believe the While I support a proposed statewide proposed city ban on selling flavored soda tax increase, I am against tobacco and vaping products to adults Sacramento’s proposed ban on selling is a good idea. First, it should be clear flavored tobacco and vaping products. after trying to ban marijuana for the last Here’s why: half a century, bans do not work as well Soda taxes have reduced sugary drink as regulation and taxation. sales and have raised money for needed I sincerely doubt that people will health programs. Data from Berkeley, stop smoking or vaping because of Philadelphia and Mexico clearly demonthe city ban. What will happen is that strates that such taxes significantly and residents and visitors, who the industry quickly reduce sales and consumption of says are buying $110 million a sugary drinks. year of flavored tobacco Drinking sodas is linked and vaping products in to many health problems, It should Sacramento, will buy including diabetes, heart be clear after their products elsedisease, asthma, dental where or online. disease and obesity. trying to ban As a result, Americans will reach marijuana for the last Sacramento’s small into their pockets half a century, bans stores, many of and pull out $237 which are struggling, billion a year for the do not work as well will take a severe hit, direct costs of treating as regulation and losing tobacco and diabetes alone, and then taxation. vape product sales, as will still need to cover well as gas and food items $90 billion for diabetesoften purchased at the same related losses in productivity, time. according to the American Diabetes Last week, the American Petroleum Association. and Convenience Store Association ran In addition to lowering consumption, an ad in SN&R conveying its concerns. soda taxes bring in significant revenues. These sales will simply shift from In California, a proposal to add a 2-cent Sacramento to surrounding cities. And tax per ounce on soda and other sugary the city of Sacramento will lose more drinks would raise an estimated $2 billion than $2 million in sales tax revenue a a year. year. So the soda tax accomplishes two Let’s focus instead on increasing major goals. First, it reduces consumption penalties and enforcement against of products with severe health consethose retailers who illegally sell these quences. And second, it raises money to products to minors. treat those same health consequences. However, soda taxes have a proven Tobacco use also has severe health impacts. There is less clarity about vaping track record. Let’s enact a soda tax in California. Ω products, though most experts agree that they are 80 percent to 95 percent less harmful than cigarettes. And there are concerns about the increasing use of vaping products by teenagers, even Jeff vonKaenel is the president, CEO and majority though it is illegal to sell these products owner of the News & Review. to anyone under age 21. 8 | Sn&r | 03.21.19