Demerit good
In economics, a demerit good is a good or service that is seen as intrinsically unhealthy, degrading, or socially damaging towards other persons and/or soceity at large once consumed. Examples of demerit goods include tobacco, alcohol beverages, recreational drugs, gambling, junk food and prostitution. Due to their perceivedly negative effects, governments often levy taxes on these goods, and in some cases outlaw consumption altogether, or the advertising thereof - the assumption being that governments can better decide on consumption of certain goods than the citizens they preside over can.
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