Would the Federal government or the individual states ever tax booze the way they do smokes?

Question

States justify collecting tax from smokers by stating that we are a burden on health care.What about alcohol abuse ?don't the heath and safety risks merit a severe tax as well?I am talking abuot alcohol abuse not social drinking.If thier true motive (the states) is to impose a severe tax because they may be picking up the Tab to care for those with "bad habits" why is the smoker the only big Fat target!

Answer 1

It'll happen sooner than later. Big Brother is always on the warpath by telling you how to run your life. I believe the next battle will be against fast food and then possibly booze.  

Answer 2

They already do tax booze. In fact, the first sin tax was a tax on booze -- the British gin tax, enacted to reduce the epidemic of drunkeness among the lower classes brought on by the invention of distilled spirits.

Answer 3

Booze is highly taxed both federally and by the individual states.  It is called a sin tax.

Answer 4

they already are you just don't see it at the counter because it is already included, the same as gas

Answer 5

Because if you started to tax alcohol the way they do tobacco, you would have massive riots when people couldn't afford booze.

Answer 6

they all ready do

Answer 7

The "Sin tax" should be for all sin. Why not tax botox or vanity plastic surgeries? How many luxury cars do you need? How many adopted kids? In the case of Jolie/Pitt who uses that platform to sell pics of their kids to the media?  Why not tax heavier the State Lottos? Bad habits? Why not tax chocolate? Coffee? Sugar?  Perfume?

Answer 8

I suspect the truth is that legislators enjoy their three martini lunches - apparently, it's a minority of them that smoke.

Some of your answers are indicating that booze is already taxed - and that's true - but in the state where I live, the tax on a pack of cigarettes exceeds the price of the actual cigarettes (!) and the percentage tax is about five times higher than the tax on alcohol.

The alleged cost to society is a damned lame reason for this tax - if it were a legitimate reason, alcohol would carry a prohibitive tax.

Answer 9

Only 20% of the voters smoke but a majority drink, so it is more politically   popular to tax tobacco.  Everybody is in favor of taxing someone else. The excuse for taxing tobacco to cover extra  expense that smokers impose  on tax payers is phony since non smokers  live longer after retirement collecting pensions,  and still run up medical bills  when the die, so smokers may actually cost the public less but that is probably also true of heavy drinkers