Of course, placing a tax on sugar is not as straightforward as it may seem. Unlike alcohol and tobacco which are a bigger problem than fatty foods and are not a necessity, food is a needed item in our everyday lives. Sugar can be natural in some foods such as fruit, and sugar which is not natural comes in a bag and is far unhealthier than when it is naturally sourced, so seeking a tax which does not show the difference between the two can be seen as insincere....
Of course, placing a tax on sugar is not as straightforward as it may seem. Unlike alcohol and tobacco which are a bigger problem than fatty foods and are not a necessity, food is a needed item in our everyday lives. Sugar can be natural in some foods such as fruit, and sugar which is not natural comes in a bag and is far unhealthier than when it is naturally sourced, so seeking a tax which does not show the difference between the two can be seen as insincere. The Telegraph says that it is estimated that around 90,000 people who claim sickness benefits for drug and alcohol-related illnesses and a further 1,800 people are entitled to benefits due to obesity-related illnesses. This shows that there are much bigger issues such as drug abuse and alcoholism although obesity is a growing issue which needs to be dealt with before it gets completely out of hand. The obesity levels are rising because people are becoming more and more careless due to more people in families working late, so they don’t have time to cook decent meals for their families. Yes, the ‘fat tax’ may decrease levels for obesity slightly but we need to think about those who are sensible eaters and incorporate some high fat and sugary treats in their diets here and there at times it would affect the money they can spend greatly. However, putting a tax on fatty foods could potentially make a drastic change in the obesity rates as many would begin to make more effort with their food choices and begin to eat healthier.
