Would taxes on sugary things actually decrease consumption? I doubt you would actually be able to tax a 50 cent drink enough to make anyone reconsider purchasing it, particularly considering people will pay up to several dollars for that same beverage in other contexts. Nobody is going to be doing the "can I afford this, with the tax price included" calculus with things that cheap. (The fact that we seem to always display prices pre-tax only aggravates this)
(The fact that we seem to always display prices pre-tax only aggravates this)
I find this practice of American retailers incredibly pernicious. I really think displayed prices should be out-the-door on everything - you can still put the tax data on the receipt. When I moved to the US from Europe, I found it very difficult to manage my grocery bill for the first year or so until I got used to adding 8% to everything.
