Sex Tax
See more » Political
Skin Tax, Sin Tax
Vice taxes are nothing new in America. A significant portion of the cost of cigarettes was taxed long before the tobacco industry found itself in retreat. And taxes usually add a fair amount to the cost of a bottle of vodka.
Special taxes for strip joints, pornography and sex toys are proposed again and again. But with scant success. Some sex taxes have been declared unconstitutional by the courts. Conservatives and fundagelicals object because making sexual pleasure a source of government revenue legitimizes it.
It’s easy to see why targeting sex businesses seems like a political slam-dunk. Singling out taboo behavior for extra taxation is part of the political drive that has led to “sin” taxes on tobacco and alcohol.
And in the U.S., where public attitudes toward sex are more buttoned-up than in Europe and elsewhere, few are likely to stand up and defend porn or nude dancing against additional taxes.
‘Skin taxes’ tempt, but face 1st Amendment issues
