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Does anybody have any data on whether "sin taxes" work to discourage the behavior they're directed at? Do states with higher taxes on cigarettes/alcohol have lower rates of smoking/alcoholism?
I would think that a more effective way to decrease obesity would be to encourage schools and employers to make it easier for people to build exercise into a daily routine. Bring back phys ed (although I HATED gym), give kids extra credit for extracurricular physical activity, have gyms and showers onsite at work and build in time for exercise during the work day, etc. SAS, one of the largest and wealthiest privately-owned companies, here in NC, has a lot of these "wellness" perks on-site, and for them it's not just a matter of employee retention (they have KICK ASS bennies and perks), it's also a matter of keeping their insurance costs low. Small companies can lose their ability to pay for health care if even one person has a serious illness. Since so many things are obesity-related (diabetes, heart disease, joint and muscle problems) it would make sense for the places where people spend the bulk of their time - schools and work - to give heavy incentives for exercise and healthy lifestyles. Seems like that would work a lot better than taxing personal choice items that, in small doses, are not in and of themselves unhealthy. Having lost my post-graduate-school weight, my BMI is now dead-smack on in the middle of healthy for the 3rd year running, and I still eat buttered popcorn and french fries occasionally. But I also know I have to eat other healthy foods and exercise or I'll put the weight back on.
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"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."
- Anatole France
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