PETA’s Undress 2008

Cigarettes, alcohol, and gasoline are already federally taxed—with excise, or “sin,” taxes—to help pay for their hidden health and environmental costs. But despite being a leading source of environmental degradation and a proven health hazard, meat has so far gotten off tax-free.

PETA is calling on members of Congress to support a “sin” tax on meat. Why? Among other reasons, meat is the number one cause of global warming, a looming environmental disaster that threatens the United States with billions of dollars in damages from rising sea levels, worsening storms, and increased droughts. A tax on meat would help prevent future global warming-related natural disasters by encouraging a decrease in meat consumption.

A 10-cent tax on every pound of chicken, turkey, pig, fish, and cow flesh sold in grocery stores and restaurants would also help reduce Americans’ skyrocketing annual health care costs by encouraging people to eat less meat. According to the American Dietetic Association, vegetarians are less prone than meat-eaters to develop heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer or to become obese. Revenue from the tax could be used to fund education programs about the health and environmental benefits of reducing meat consumption.

This is uncensored version:

Filed Under: Animal & Plant Life