On: Do “sin taxes” work?

[exabrial]

My problem with sin taxes is they're usually sponsored by a corporate entity. Eg: in Seattle the sugar tax doesn't apply to Starbucks hilariously.

[craftyguy → exabrial]

> Seattle the sugar tax doesn't apply to Starbucks hilariously.

Wow, to exclude an organization which sells 1000+ cal. drinks (vast majority/all from sugars) to millions of people a day, is hilarious indeed. And sad.

[bskap → craftyguy]

It's milk-based drinks that are excluded, not Starbucks specifically. So it doesn't apply to things like chocolate milk, milkshakes, or milkshakes with a small amount of coffee in them.

[exabrial → bskap]

What's so better about a drink with milk with tons of sugar than a drink without milk with tons of sugar? The drink without milk probably has fewer calories.

This is just an example of a corporation buying out a local government.

[Ntrails → exabrial]

> This is just an example of a corporation buying out a local government.

I gotta question whether it's realistic to say that Starbucks bought out local government with it's infinite resources but McDonalds couldn't afford to?

I'd love to see the actual/official reasoning behind the exclusion though

[craftyguy → Ntrails]

Starbucks was born/raised in Seattle.. so maybe that affiliation won them a free pass?

[bskap → exabrial]

Oh, it's certainly a sell out. I'm just saying it's not a sellout to Starbucks. It's a sell out to the dairy industry.

[anfilt → exabrial]

Hey got to have the Frappuccino with cream on top. /s