August 23, 2009 by Karen Kaplan, The Los Angeles Times  

A surcharge on cigarettes has helped curb smoking, but will the same tactic work to fight obesity?

"Sin taxes" on cigarettes have turned out to be the most effective weapon in the campaign to reduce smoking. Why not try it on Flamin' Hot Cheetos, vanilla Coke and Twinkies? With increasing vigor, public health experts and think tanks are calling for extra taxes on foods and drinks that are heavy in calories and light on nutrition.

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