Can you imagine a world where you have to pay an additional tax if you want to consume unhealthy snacks (like your go-to chips), soft drinks (because you want that fizz), and certain processed meats (that are often cheaper than the unprocessed ones).
Well, you don’t have to look far into the future because it’s already a thing in Colombia.
From ‘Tremendously unfair’: Latin America’s strictest junk food law divides shoppers in Bogotá:
The additional tax of 10%, which is planned to increase to 20% by 2025, is levied on unhealthy snacks and soft drinks, as well as some staples, such as processed meats.
A month after introduction of the measures, shoppers in Bogotá are beginning to feel the impact.
“Everyone knows that a high amount of sugar or sodium is bad for health, so it’s a good idea to increase the tax on those products. But eating healthily is expensive,” says Cano.
While others are troubled with the imposed tax on unhealthy foods, others aren’t.
From ‘Tremendously unfair’: Latin America’s strictest junk food law divides shoppers in Bogotá:
“I think you should pay a bit more to eat healthy,” says Carlos Martínez, 54, a shopper at the high-end supermarket Carulla, known for its quality fresh produce. “In fact, look, I just bought healthy crackers, fruits and vegetables. The health warnings are working.”
If one day, you wake up in this kind of future, what would you do?
jessa 