sin tax

noun

, Informal.

1. a tax levied on cigarettes, liquor, gambling, or other things considered neither luxuries nor necessities.

sin tax

noun

1. informal.
   a tax levied on something that is considered morally or medically harmful, such as alcohol or tobacco

Word History and Origins

Origin of sin tax¹

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

“There’s not a general income tax, not a corporate tax. This is, from my perspective, more of a sin tax…. The cost borne by the taxpayers for gun violence is off the charts.… So it’s a small price to pay. This is pretty de minimis.”

From Los Angeles Times

California voters eked out a win for children more than two decades ago based on a “sin tax.”

From Los Angeles Times

Department of Revenue statistics show cannabis has become a larger source of state revenue than alcohol and tobacco as sources of “sin tax” revenue over the past five years, raising more than $2 billion for the state even before local sales taxes are calculated.

From Seattle Times

Japanese officials, worried about shifting demographics and a sharp decline in sin tax revenue, have come up with an unusual fix for their fiscal woes: encouraging young people to drink more.

From Washington Post

A few years ago, there was talk of a "sin tax" which would raise prices of unhealthy foods and drinks to discourage their consumption, but health experts say it never happened because of pushback from companies that market them.

From BBC