Roughly 42 percent of Americans favor "behavior" or "sin" taxes to curb unhealthy consumption habits, according to a recent Consumer Reports survey.
Consumer Reports surveyed 1,010 adults nationwide over the telephone during November 2016 to gauge their opinion on government taxes and subsidies and their effect on individuals' consumption patterns.
Among the 42 percent of those surveyed who favored behavior or sin taxes, the majority approved of the specific taxing of sugar-sweetened beverages. While half of those surveyed said they would not cut back their consumption of unhealthy foods even with the added tax costs, the plurality (73 percent) of respondents said they would eat more healthy food if it cost less.
Many cities, including Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago and Berkeley, Calif., have enacted laws taxing sodas and sugar-sweetened drinks at a higher rate than other foods and beverages. However, the tax becomes more effective when paired with subsidies on healthy foods and education programs, the report states.