Case Study

Option B: Case study #6: “Taxes on Soda Pop: A Boon to Public Health or an Infringement of Individual Rights?”

What are the arguments for and against the implementation of soda taxes? What values are in conflict? Living by the best balance of these values you have outlined, what other ways, besides taxation, can sugar consumption be reduced? What efforts have worked in reducing cigarette or alcohol use and would they work with your value system?

Answers to Questions 1 through 7 can help gather the information necessary for performing an ethical analysis. Based on this information, one can develop a decision that has the strongest ethical basis.

Who are all the people affected by the action? (stakeholder analysis)

Is the action beneficial to me? (egoism)

Is the action supported by my social group? (social group relativism)

Is the action supported by national laws? (cultural relativism)

Is the action for the greatest good of the greatest number of people affected by it? (utilitarianism)

Does the action treat every stakeholder with respect and dignity, and is the act something that everyone should do? (deontology)

Is this how a virtuous person would act? (virtue ethics)

If answers to Questions 2 through 7 are all “yes,” then do it.

If answers to Questions 2 through 7 are all “no,” then do not do it.

If answers to Questions 2 through 7 are mixed, then modify your decision.

If answers to Questions 5, 6, and 7 are “yes,” this action is the most You may need to modify this decision in consideration of any “no” answer to Questions 2 through 4.

If answers to Questions 5, 6, and 7 are “no,” this action is the least Modify this decision in consideration of these objections.

If answers to Questions 5, 6, and 7 are mixed, this action is moderately Modify this decision in consideration of objections raised by Questions 5, 6, or 7. You may need to further modify this decision in consideration of any “no” answer to Questions 2, 3, or 4.