Sugar Taxes Are Unfair And Unhealthy | Patrick Basham | Cato Institute: Commentary

Sugar Taxes Are Unfair And Unhealthy | Patrick Basham | Cato Institute: Commentary: 'Economic research finds sugar taxes are a futile instrument in influencing the behavior and habits of the overweight and the obese. Why do sugar taxes fail? Those consumers who strongly prefer unhealthy foods continue to eat and drink according to their individual preferences until such time as it becomes prohibitively expensive to do so.'

'Poorer consumers react to higher food prices not by changing their diets but by consuming even fewer healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, and eating more processed foods. For instance, taxes levied specifically on sugar content increase saturated fat consumption.'