Sin Taxing: The Public Health Code Of Ethics

Sin taxes are levies imposed on an individual that purchases certain detrimental products in a bid to discourage their consumption in society. Payment of sin taxes on alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and unhealthy foods in America is a necessary policy to control unhealthy behavior, fund healthcare costs and subsidize economic shortfalls amid the claims that it impedes autonomy. Since its coinage in the early 16th century, sin taxing has proved as effective way of discouraging harmful practices. Nonetheless, since human nature makes people yearn to go against the norms, people have often made the choice to consume the “sinful” products thus creating a rich source of government revenue. (Altman, 2009)

Some may say that sin taxing is a patronizing

The first three provisions in the ANA Code reference the nurse’s obligation to respect the uniqueness of the individual regardless of type of illness or behavior, to have the patient as her primary commitment, and to protect the health and safety of the patient. The ANA Code also, however, includes the community, not just 74 Public Health Nursing Volume 28 Number 1 January/February 2011 the individual, as patient. Sin taxes are consistent with the ANA Code’s call to advocate not only for individual rights but also for the health of the individual who may be engaging in self-harm, and at the same time, to protect the health of the community. (Green, p.

This goal is mainly achieved through reduction in consumption of these products and through investing revenue earned from sin taxes in health projects. “More recently, President Obama increased cigarette taxes by 62 cents per pack to expand health care coverage for children.” (Green, p. 3) Sin tax revenues are also used in other ways for public interest such as the use of cigarette taxes in Montana to fund educational initiatives, building nursing homes for veterans and providing small business people with medical insurance in 2004. (Cited in the Ethics of Sin Taxes, 2010) The government also uses this revenue in organizing campaigns against these “sinful” products through educating young people who are not consumers of the products against starting the habits. The campaigns also reach out to addicts or general consumers of the product about getting help to stop the dependence and avoid illnesses associated with the