The man on the street ponders the implications on lifestyle and social life with the proposed law that drive prices of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes.
It may not yet result in increased government income as proponents of the Sin Tax Law profess or the healthier lifestyles that health officials want for the common person.
“Okay ra man ng patas-an nila ang presyo sa mga ilimnon og sigarilyo pero, mao naman gud na ang naandan sa mga tawo. Magpangita man na sila ana,” said 24-year-old Maricel Suelto, who works in a cell phones shop in Colon Street.
(Increasing the price of all cigarettes and liquors is just fine, but a lot of people will still crave for it since they have become their vices.)
She said those who are engaged in smoking and drinking liquor will still find a way to buy them no matter how expensive it is.
“Magpangita na jud sila ana kay naanad naman gud sila. Naa man gani uban nga bisag dili pwede, magkawat-kawat og gamit,” Suelto said.
(They will eventually find a way to feed their habit. Many even take it discreetly if they are told not to smoke and drink.)
Call center agent Edcel Joy Moria said people like her drink liquor for fun.
“The taste of the liquor is really bad, but what makes the drinking session fun is the presence of your friends. Nindot man gud kayo ang bonding og jam-jam,” Moria admitted.
(It is really cool to hand out and bond with friends with drinking.)
She also said that drinking liquor can help her to forget her problems.
“Lahi ra jud ang nakainom sa normal if naay problema. Kay ma relax man, makalimtan man gud na nimo imong problema. Not necessarily na makalimot jud ka pero, mawala man gud na sa imong huna-huna imong problema,” Moria said.
(If you have problems, it makes a difference if you drink. You get relaxed, and forget for even awhile your woes.)
Though Moria admitted that she drinks liquor, she’s glad to know that it’s price will increase once the Sin Tax Bill will be passed into law.
“Mayra pud oi kay para kadaghanan sa teenagers dili na maka afford ilimnon,” Moria said.
(It is a good thing, many young people cannot afford it anymore.)
Moria also believes that the Sin Tax law can either help reduce or increase the crime rates.
“If mahitabo na, naay possibility na moubos ang crime rates kay ang mga tawo maglisod na og palit og sigarilyo og ilimnon kay mahal naman pero. Naa pud tendency na motaas siya kay basin mangawat na lang pud sila para naa la’y ikapalit,” Moria said.
(If the Sin Tax law is approved, it could drive down criminality because, many people will not get drunk anymore. But then again, some could resort to theft to buy drinks and cigarettes.)
However, Moria thinks that it will be hard for a lot of people to get rid of their vices.
“Hinuon, depende ra man na sa tawo, pero lisod na kay naanad naman sila.”
(Whether it will drive people away from their vices, I think it would be hard for most to do away with their habits.)
After 15 years, the Lower House had approved in third and final reading of the Sin Tax Bill last June 6.
Proponents of the law are eyeing more than P30 billion new revenues from higher alcoholic beverage and tobacco taxes.
Health advocates in Cebu, lead by officials of the Department of Health are campaigning for the bills passage in the Senate.