While if the extra tax money went to medical care it probably wouldn't bother much, but using higher taxes to force consumers to quit smoking and drinking is not a good thing. Not only is the government trying to impose a tax on tobacco and alcohol, but it is also trying to impose an additional tax on foods deemed unhealthy. Families will go without it so people can pay higher taxes, and the money from those higher taxes doesn't always go to the programs it's supposed to go to. What is the sin tax? “Sin taxes” are a popular term for fees charged for sinful pleasures or human indulgence, such as smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol. Sin taxes can be defined as government revenues generated by the purchase or consumption of resources or services with the following characteristics: 1. Consumption has an inelastic demand curve. The behavior is addictive. In other words, a small change in behavior will generate significant tax revenue but will not eliminate that behavior.2. The behavior may be considered self-destructive or harmful to the individual. Sinful behaviors generate immediate or long-term negative personal consequences, such as poor health or obesity.3. The behavior generates negative externalities: other people suffer. However, sins are often viewed generally, but not universally, as socially undesirable. Consumption of the product or service raises concerns or is generally considered contrary to socially desirable behavior or dysfunctional in terms of social well-being. Others suffer from the actions of an individual. (Lorenzi, 2004) In other words, if it is officially deemed bad for us, then a sin tax can be added to it whether people like it or not. First, use higher taxes to force consumers to q.... .. middle of paper ......beverage make the choice to consume these products so why should they be punished by having to pay a higher price ? The sin tax has been around for as long as anyone can remember and it has never ended well, but does that stop the government from implementing them again and again? No, that's not the case! We all understand that smoking and drinking are bad for us and perhaps in the future we may need long-term care. Because of the use of these products, we should also have the option of putting money into a government fund to help us. in the future if necessary. Works CitedBlack, PA (2006). “Sin” taxes and poor households: unforeseen effects. South African Journal of Economics, 74(1), 131-136.Green, R. (2011). The Ethics of Sin Taxes. Public Health Nursing, 28(1), 68-77.Lorenzi, P. (2004). SIN TAXES. Company, 41(3), 59-65.