Updated!! Pennsylvania: 40% tax = game over for vape

[BreSha6869]

I don't know if this has come up, but Philly has passed a 1.5 cents tax on sugary drinks and diet sodas. That is a $1.01 tax on a 2 liter of soda!

I feel bad for the people in this state and city. PA gets you coming and going.

Wow, that's crazy! In Canada, I can buy a 2l bottle of Coke/Pepsi for about $1US. Lucky I never drink the stuff.

What's next, tax on unsweetened iced tea 'cuz it's got caffeine?

 

[VNeil]

I don't know if this has come up, but Philly has passed a 1.5 cents tax on sugary drinks and diet sodas. That is a $1.01 tax on a 2 liter of soda!

I feel bad for the people in this state and city. PA gets you coming and going.

I hope the non-smoking soda drinkers, who thought tobacco taxes were such a good idea because someone else was paying them, appreciate where the precedent of a 60+% excise tax came from

 

[JoanJ]

About Alaska.... bless their hearts... I think cigarettes are higher there than even NY, $9 pack or there abouts. Lived in AK a long time and it isn't always what you see on the tv shows... it is full of tree hugging granola eaters that seemed to have migrated from the lower left coast... the loudmouth minority that seems to think they know what is best for everyone else and can't seem to keep their nose out of everyone else's business. I used to be quiet and polite and those days are over for me

 

[VNeil]

What's next, tax on unsweetened iced tea 'cuz it's got caffeine?

How about children's breakfast cereals
which contains fully half as much sugar pet standard serving?

 

[BreSha6869]

How about children's breakfast cereals
which contains fully half as much sugar pet standard serving?

I eat very well, but my 3 year old gets the odd bit of Lucky Charms, McDonalds Fries, chips, etc., but very rarely and just as a treat. Up to the parents not to overdo it, I guess.

Problem IMO is, things like peanut butter, Sunny D and most sugary cereal is cheap. Many people can't afford sugar reduced $8 quinoa granola, arts farty protein bars or natural peanut butters. Basically taxing a large portion of the poor with these sugary sin taxes which IMO sucks.

 

[Verb]

I eat very well, but my 3 year old gets the odd bit of Lucky Charms, McDonalds Fries, chips, etc., but very rarely and just as a treat. Up to the parents not to overdo it, I guess.

Problem IMO is, things like peanut butter, Sunny D and most sugary cereal is cheap. Many people can't afford sugar reduced $8 quinoa granola, arts farty protein bars or natural peanut butters. Basically taxing a large portion of the poor with these sugary sin taxes which IMO sucks.

But, that is the point of sin taxes. It's tough to pass a tax that explicitly states it is designed to tax the poor. Most voters know it's a dumb idea. So, create sins out of behaviors that are disproportionately perpetrated by the poor and tax or criminalize the behavior. Alcohol, tobacco, and gambling are a great start. The sugary drink tax is a creative endeavor. I'm waiting for the mass transit tax, groceries purchased at the corner store tax, check cashing/gift card tax, and the payday loan tax. Though, the biggest growth in recent years to tax the poor has been through fines and civil asset forfeiture.

 

[VNeil]

I eat very well, but my 3 year old gets the odd bit of Lucky Charms, McDonalds Fries, chips, etc., but very rarely and just as a treat. Up to the parents not to overdo it, I guess.

Problem IMO is, things like peanut butter, Sunny D and most sugary cereal is cheap. Many people can't afford sugar reduced $8 quinoa granola, arts farty protein bars or natural peanut butters. Basically taxing a large portion of the poor with these sugary sin taxes which IMO sucks.

I didn't say it didn't suck. I just find a little revenge to be sweet.

Don't you find it odd that Philly is putting a tobacco level sin tax on a food product that the FDA apparent!y believes unnecessary to even suggest a daily maximum limit or even a daily value?

I think that speaks loudly of the corruption at all levels of govt

 

[BreSha6869]

I didn't say it didn't suck. I just find a little revenge to be sweet.

Don't you find it odd that Philly is putting a tobacco level sin tax on a food product that the FDA apparent!y believes unnecessary to even suggest a daily maximum limit or even a daily value?

I think that speaks loudly of the corruption at all levels of govt

It also shows that various levels of govt can do whatever the hell they want even if they aren't in lockstep with Feds.

 

[Rossum]

What's next, tax on unsweetened iced tea 'cuz it's got caffeine?

Please don't give them any ideas. I'd hate to have to start stockpiling caffeine.

 

[Verb]

It also shows that various levels of govt can do whatever the hell they want even if they aren't in lockstep with Feds.

That is where the one bright spot of this tax lies. If open system vaping proves substantially profitable to the state, the fed will have a tough time getting state agencies to enforce deeming reg requirements that deeply cut revenue.

Edit: Products produced in state and not introduced into interstate commerce may be insulated from the fed. If they find a way to clarify the tax for house juice, the B&M stores that manage to get the proper licenses and survive the implementation will have a large market share. It will be an uncomfortable place to operate, like other things that are legal in some state but illegal on the federal level.

 

[mikepetro]

Please don't give them any ideas. I'd hate to have to start stockpiling caffeine.

We bought a bag of caffeine equivalent to 15,625 cans of Coca-Cola for $30

 

[BreSha6869]

We bought a bag of caffeine equivalent to 15,625 cans of Coca-Cola for $30

Begs the question... "What the hell does anyone need a 1/2 kilo of pure caffeine for?!?!"

I guess the same can be said for having litres of NIC in the freezer!

 

[BreSha6869]

Duplicate post.

 

[Mrmik]

How about children's breakfast cereals
which contains fully half as much sugar pet standard serving?

Definitely need a tax hike there.....
Recently, I were over in Sweden and in the food store/supermarket with my daughter, she asked me where the cereal aisle was. Looked around and found it BUT, very limited and there were more choices of muesli than cereal. A tax hike will not hurt but let the people rethink the benefits of eating cereal. Who have not heard of kids eating cereal for breakfast, lunch AND dinner?

 

[Qew]

Wait a second! How about the manufacturers take the heat instead of consumers? They are the ones putting this crap out on the shelves, why should WE be taxed for any of it? Pressure food manufacturers to produce decent, nutritious products. There is no reason for any level of government to stuff their hands into my pocket, while lying about their motivation. They can ALL get off my lawn!

 

[Lessifer]

Definitely need a tax hike there.....
Recently, I were over in Sweden and in the food store/supermarket with my daughter, she asked me where the cereal aisle was. Looked around and found it BUT, very limited and there were more choices of muesli than cereal. A tax hike will not hurt but let the people rethink the benefits of eating cereal. Who have not heard of kids eating cereal for breakfast, lunch AND dinner?

Taxes are not an acceptable means of shaping public behavior, at least not in my book...

 

[Mrmik]

Taxes are not an acceptable means of shaping public behavior, at least not in my book...

Agreed..... How about this with vaping.... are they trying to shape our behavior? If so, cereals would be a much better source for revenues..... After all, it is for the sake of health of children.

 

[Lessifer]

Agreed..... How about this with vaping.... are they trying to shape our behavior? If so, cereals would be a much better source for revenues..... After all, it is for the sake of health of children.

That would make more sense, from a public health standpoint, but I'm still against it.

Honestly, if a parent is feeding their child at all, that's a positive. For many people, a small tax would go unnoticed. For people on a very tight budget, any increase has to be made up somewhere. Cereal price goes up $.50, maybe the kid gets one less apple this week.

 

[Jerry J]

Received from Jim Christiana:

"Thank you for the kind words, but I'm sorry I didn't do enough to stop the massive tax increase on those small businesses. Unfortunately there will be consequences to these small businesses, and a new 40% tax on their inventory is ridiculous."

Thank you for posting this. This shows that at least there are some politicians that have common sense which seems to be quite rare these days.

We need a guy like this to run for president! There should a be a boilerplate letter that we all can send to Mr. Christiana to thank him for being reasonable.

 

[BreSha6869]

Agreed..... How about this with vaping.... are they trying to shape our behavior? If so, cereals would be a much better source for revenues..... After all, it is for the sake of health of children.

Amen brother. Let's all do it for the children. Isn't that ALL this is really about?

Government doesn't care about tax, they only care about the children as they are our future.