To stop the usage and intake of unhealthy substances in any nation is not an easy peasy. And it is even beyond imposing heavy taxes on the production of such things. Some of the substances abused are actually not unhealthy or harmful, it is just individual that use too much of it. For example, caffeine is used in several drugs but some decided to take it a step further. The approach to stop unhealthy usage of things has to be balanced so as not to affect the initial and proper usage.
In many cases, addiction is hard and takes time to stop. The most relatable example is what each of us like the most, how often we take them and how much we spend on them: this isn't even drugs yet we are so addicted. Quitting your addiction is a tough call. I used to love eating a particular peanut burger: unconsciously, I buy close to 15-30 per week and I never kept the numbers until my friends couldn't take it anymore.
My first disinterest was due to price increase by about 30%, then 50%. Within a space of 9 months the price had gone over 100% increase due to inflation then, the company reduce the size, quality and quantity of the burger. I couldn't believe I left my addiction for about a year. Now, I can even afford the current price but no longer addicted to it. Price did a thing on me then😂
Price can actually alter the rate or level of addiction. Here in my country, the price of data subscription went really high: it was at a ridiculous price and the data plan were shits. Guess what people complained but nothing was done, now we are cautious of how we use our data because the prices aren't cheap at all. Crazy part, these subscriptions doesn't last like they should. You might have to buy a monthly subscription 2 to 3 times in one month.
Increasing the prices of alcoholic drinks or cigarettes might be a good idea but would it really make them stop buying it or it would only make them spend more and unnecessarily by neglecting important things and spending money meant for those important things on alcohol and cigarettes. Higher prices would really have a great effect of discouraging harmful consumption. When the prices of these things are high the consumers will reduce the quantity they buy, for example if the price of cigarettes increases by 10 times the previous amount, consumers will definitely reduce the quantity they buy by the time they realize that the amount they use in buying ten packs of cigarettes is what they use in buying just a pack of cigarette then they will definitely reduce the amount they spend on it and by doing so they've also reduced the amount of cigarettes they consume thereby discouraging harmful consumptions.
Heavy taxes may also cause or allow companies to reformulate their product.
For example an alcohol company or a soft drink company might have to reduce the sugar content or the alcohol percentage content in their product to ensure that their product becomes less harmful to their consumers to ensure that the government see reasons to remove the heavy taxes placed on their products.
Another good part of the government deciding to impose heavy taxes is that the taxes can be used to generate revenue to create health awareness programmes more health facilities and medications for diseases caused by consuming alcohol cigarettes and high amount of sugar. The taxes can also be used to generate revenue to subsidize healthier foods thereby making it easier for consumers to eat more healthy and beneficial food
However, there might be some downsides to the imposing of tax on these products
Poor people might have to start buying the fake products because they are more cheap and that's because what the producers will use in producing them will be of very low standard and quality. So if consumers start buying these products because they are cheap it can lead them to have more health issues due to the quality of what they use in producing them. There have been cases of addicts going to the extent of finding a closer alternative to products.
Some people will still buy these products no matter the cost especially if they are really addicted to it. They might have to cut spending elsewhere in order to get money to buy these products at all costs. Another thing is that when these people are really addicted to it they would want to do anything no matter the cost in order to raise money to buy them, this can lead to them doing what they are not supposed to do some of them might have to start stealing to raise money, indulging in other crime activities in order to raise money to buy these products. Overpricing or adding tax can also lead to illegal trading or adulteration of the original product.
I feel the goal should be the health of the consumers not just the increase in the price of the products, the government should focus on long term fix and should also be very strict with their policy.
Image used in this post was gotten and edited on Canva.
