Why tax soft drinks and not ‘foie gras’?

Even in a cash strapped European Union, a new fizzy drinks tax seems like a non-solution whether it be to promote better health or bolster state coffers.

In an article published in Les Echos, the Belgian think tank “L’Institut économique Molinari” argues that even though beverage taxes on fizzy drinks have been in place in the United States since the 1920s; the results have been negligible with absolutely no impact recorded on obesity in younger generations.

The think tank argues that the lack of results is due to a tax tackling the wrong issue. Rather than target individual foods and drinks, a stronger emphasis should be on the root cause of the problem where attempts to change individual behaviour is needed.

You can read the full article by following this link (website) or here (PDF)

You can read the full study here.