Should meat become more expensive due to higher taxes?

Poll results

Should meat become more expensive due to higher taxes?
Support
Reject
Don't know
35%
61%
4%
PolitPro Community – 4725 respondents – 27.01.2024-02.02.2024

Poll information

Should meat become more expensive due to higher taxes? 35% of respondents were in favor of higher taxes on meat, while 61% were against.

4% chose the answer "Don't know". The survey was conducted among 4725 users of the PolitPro app during 27.01.2024-02.02.2024. The results are not representative, but may give a rough idea of the political mood around the issue.

Pros - What's in favor?

  1. Health and environmental considerations: Higher taxes on meat can help limit consumption and thus improve public health. High meat consumption is linked to health problems such as heart disease, obesity and cancer. In addition, meat production contributes significantly to environmental pollution, including deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution. Higher taxes can reduce meat consumption, which can have positive impacts on human health and the environment.
  2. Animal welfare: the meat industry is often criticized for animal cruelty and poor husbandry conditions. Higher taxes on meat can provide incentives to promote more sustainable and animal-friendly production methods. This could lead to improved animal welfare and increase demand for ethically produced meat.
  3. Equity and resource allocation: meat production requires large amounts of resources such as water, land, and feed. Higher taxes on meat can reflect the true cost of these resources. This leads to a more equitable distribution of resources and promotes more sustainable use. In addition, the additional tax revenue can be used to promote environmentally friendly farming practices and support disadvantaged farmers.

Cons - What's against it?

  1. Social injustice: higher taxes on meat could disproportionately burden low-income people. Meat is an important source of protein for some populations, and higher prices could make it more difficult to access a balanced diet. This could lead to worsening social inequality.
  2. Choice and individual freedom: taxing meat can be seen as interfering with individual freedom of choice. People should have the right to shape their diet according to their own preferences and needs, without being influenced by government action. Such taxation could be perceived as patronizing and restrict personal choice.
  3. Economic impact: Higher taxes on meat could have a negative impact on agriculture and the meat industry. Jobs could be jeopardized and rural communities could be severely impacted. In addition, higher prices for meat could lead to increased smuggling or relocation of production abroad, which could hurt the domestic economy.