The reason for “sugary drink taxes” is vital.
Revenue is needed for the city governments and they have to find a scapegoat to justify the taxation.
The game is the same one played with cigarettes 20 years ago.
There’s a sad, sad scapegoat in this place....
Second hand tooth decay!
Tobacco taxes were supposed to fund health costs directly incurred by smoking. This way, as people quit smoking, these costs would decline as well to match the decrease in projected tobacco tax revenue.
Well, turns out smokers didn't really cost more in health care (maybe even less) and there was $247 billion dollars that tobacco companies were on the hook for.
Someone has to spend that money!
As of now, over $100 billion has been paid out. If you want some entertainment, do a little research on who has received this money and who hasn't. Some organizations were lucky to get their hands out quickly and get rich fast.
People today are quitting smoking in record numbers. It is now a habit associated almost exclusively with poor people. One addiction that hasn't been broken is that towards tobacco tax revenue. Something will need to replace it.