Posted on 09/11/2013 8:32:27 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
President Enrique Pena Nieto's plan to tax sugary drinks to curb Mexico's obesity epidemic earned him praise Tuesday from New York's mayor and health advocates but soda makers slammed it as ineffective.
Pena Nieto wants Mexicans to pay an extra peso (almost 8 US cents) for every liter of sweetened drink in a country that guzzles more soft drinks than any other and rivals the United States for the dubious honor of world's most obese nation.
If Congress approves the tax, Mexico would join France in introducing a special levy on sodas.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose plan to ban giant soft drinks from restaurants was rejected by an appeals court in July, exchanged pleasantries with Pena Nieto on Twitter.
"Thanks to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto for taking action on the obesity epidemic & supporting a new tax on sugary drinks," he wrote.
The Mexican leader replied: "I thank @MikeBloomberg for the recognition of the important reform agenda we are leading in Mexico. I hope to greet you in NY soon."
But Coca-Cola de Mexico argued in a statement that "a tax on beverages is ineffective to combat a problem as complex as obesity."
"To change behaviors effectively, we need to ensure people understand that all calories count, regardless of the source -- and that includes our caloric beverages too," the company said.
Coca-Cola said studies show that soft drinks account for between 5.5 percent and 6.6 percent of calories in the average Mexican diet, "so it is difficult to understand why beverages are viewed by some as the primary cause of weight gain."
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
Nanny State PING!
Bloomers loves anything that involves a tax. He has a thing for other people’s money.
Bloomers loves anything that involves a tax. He has a thing for other peoples money.
Well, yeah, FlingWingFlyer, but considering how little money Bloomberg has, it may be understandable.
I really hate NY.
Thanks for the ping!
I wonder if he mentioned the losers he backed in Colorado.
Hehehehe
Note to self: Set up a soda bootlegging operation in Mexico.
However for the 25 million illegals in the U.S. giving their kids lard dipped fired pork rings and big fat chunky cheese burritos while they shop at Walmart before dinner, is still considered acceptable and healthy.
Not a bad ideal. I notice that the sodas in Mexico are not overly carbonated like here just a sip and you start burping. My mother hated sodas but she started to drink Pepsi because it was not overly carbonated.
It is not that - it's the corrupt government after more money.
Dig soda smuggling tunnels into Mexico.
The cartels must be licking their chops.
So tell me then, does he also praise Mexico’s method of dealing with illegal aliens? because that’s one thing I would like to see him emulate in New York.
I hope that Coca-Cola in Mexico makes it thru this... they use glass bottles and sweeten with cane sugar, as opposed to the US bottlers using plastic and high-fructose corn syrup.
Although I do not have a sweet tooth to speak of and never drink soda pop, when I am in SE New Mexico I give myself a special treat on occasion... Mexican Coca Cola. It’s like old Coke... made with cane sugar. There really is a difference. They sell it in half liter glass bottles.
because honestly, when i think of issues in Mexico...my first concern is soda and are they taxing it enough...
let tax the high percentage of fatties...they cant run or shoot back.
here in Ireland they have taxed cigareetes so much, drug dealers are switching from heroin to cigarette distribution because there is more money in it...i kid you not..
maybe thats the plan in Mexico to get the drug dealers to move from coke to cola
You don’t have to tell me about Mexican Coca-Cola. ;-)
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