6/6: Is Taxing Pop Really A Solution?

One of the problems about junk food is that it's so easily accessible. Most types often cost you less than a toonie. With food and pop so cheap, people would resort to them sooner for a quick snack on their way somewhere or to bring to school.



So this ad is trying to scare people away from drinking soda. I don't really drink it myself, but this made me a bit more squeamish towards it. I think the video itself was a bit funny, too, because the actor looks so comically happy and a bit sarcastic as he's drinking the ... stuff. Also, I think it's a really good eye-opener when they put the equivalent amount of fat or whatever in front of you because you never really realize how much something is until it's in its bluntest form.

I think obesity is definitely growing to be an epidemic. However, it's totally underrated and shooed away. People think that oh, one bag of chips won't hurt, because they can just go run it off later at the gym or something. However, that one bag soon turns into a habit and then they become lazy and won't run it off. Many times, people don't even think about trying to make up for it. That's the problem.

So what's the solution? Will people stop buying or buy less pop because it's more expensive? Well that depends how much the tax actually is, but I doubt it. Why do people like pop? Because it's so convenient and accessible. There's a large variety everywhere we go, thanks to vending machines.

Already, there are pop machines in places that have the costs reaching almost $3, but people still buy it because they don't have to go out of their way and find a store. Is growing obesity an epidemic? Almost, almost. I think it's an epidemic in the sense that it's a major problem with its numbers, but it's not really paid attention to. It's like everyone's kind of turning a blind eye to it because it's such a huge industry in the modern Americas.

If the tax does go through, I'm pretty sure people will continue to buy pop. I doubt it'll stop the problem, though it'll help boost the profit of pop companies. Well, maybe people will buy less, but perhaps the tax will make up for lost profits. As for the tax moving in on Canada, too, I think the Canadian government will wait a while to observe how the USA citizens react to it, then decide what to do with us. Again, I really doubt this tax will work on majority of people. It'll work on some people, but not all. I don't buy soda or chips anymore, maybe like once a month, but that was because of unrelated reasons. So I'd probably continue my spending habits.