Tax On Chewing Gum Will Help Curb Litter

[matcom]

<snip>

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Bubble-gum blowers beware: Ireland is mulling a tax on chewing gum to fund the cost of cleaning the sticky stuff from its pavements.

A government-commissioned study has proposed a 10 percent levy on gum -- equal to about five euro cents a pack -- in its latest drive to clean up the country. The levy could raise around 4 to 5 million euros ($4.9-$6.2 million) a year.

Alternatively, the study suggested, the industry could agree to fund ways of tackling litter.

"Concerted and innovative action is required if we are to successfully address the litter problem in Ireland," environment minister Martin Cullen said in a statement.

Ireland already has a levy on plastic bags, which stopped shops from giving them away for free and which the government says has slashed the number of bags cluttering city streets or collecting in the countryside.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=573&e=2&u=/nm/20040923/od_nm/life_ireland_gum_dc

[Tripmann]

1. Another 'stealth' tax

There was a 15 cent (euro) levy for plastic bags here in Ireland which was supposed to go to environmental issues, but got 'diverted' elsewhere.

This levy won't go towards cleaning up the streets at all, any more than car tax in Ireland goes to the upkeep of the roads.

Tripmann

[demnan]

2. Yeah that makes a hell of a lot of sense

you can see how the tax on cigarettes keeps people from putting them out all over the sidewalk and what-not.

Here's an idea that might work. Have a contest to see which is the cleanest town in Ireland and offer free beer to residents in the pubs for a day in that town.

That would clean your sidewalks! (And the tax on gum could pay for the beer).

[underpants]

3. Wasn't it outlawed in Singapore for just this reason?

I think it was Singapore.