NationStates Jolt Archive

Looky Looky.. .just last week I proposed in the NS UN that nations adopt a 'fat tax' on fast foods to discourage buying of such rancid over processed foods... because banning it outright would take away a consumers right to choose - and as if my magic, I found this today on the bbc web site:

Government unit 'urges fat tax'

The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit is considering increasing duties on some food and having a sports drive to fight obesity, according to the Times.

The newspaper claims a document urges a fatty food tax as a "signal to society" because the number of obese British people has risen sharply in 20 years.

A Downing Street spokesman said the government had no plans for such a tax.

He said: "It is no secret that the government is looking at the problem of obesity.

"But no proposals of this kind have been put to the prime minister."

The spokesman said that there was agreement both in and out of government that it would not be a workable system.

However, he confirmed the story came from a minor discussion document by their strategy unit.

The Times says the strategy unit's paper, titled Personal Responsibility and Changing Behaviour, points out that NHS spending on obesity-related disease has risen.

"The main drivers - poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle - are largely outside the direct influence of the NHS," it says.

It suggests a number of policies such as a national sports drive along the lines of the successful Active Australia strategy, and lifestyle lessons in schools.

Tax 'life-saving'

A new tax or the extension of VAT is proposed for some dairy products, fast food and sweets.

"This would be a signal to producers as well as consumers and serve more broadly as a signal to society that nutritional content in food is important," says the document.

Last year doctors at the British Medical Association (BMA) debated a proposal to impose the full 17.5% VAT rate on a wider range of high-fat foods such as biscuits, cakes and processed meals.

The full 17.5% rate is already charged on some foods including fizzy drinks, crisps and heated burgers.

The British Medical Journal recently claimed a 'fat tax' could help prevent 1,000 premature deaths from heart disease every year in the UK.

... I wonder if the trawl nationstates for all thier policies... muwahaha :D

so... if fatty foods were taxed higher - would you still by them?

I saw a documentary on more four about a guy who wants to tax fat people... didn't anyone else see that?

I saw a documentary on more four about a guy who wants to tax fat people... didn't anyone else see that?

yeah i saw that and i think that's totally harsh, it'd be less discrimative to tax the products, not the people. There's no denying that some people have genitic or medical conditions that prevent them being a healthy weight, and they shouldnt be penalised because of it

Ya, its a really good idea for governments to try and crack down on items.

Here in the States, we had this thing called Prohibition. Its when all the booze was banned. Worked like a charm.

I'm sure when your government tries and tells people not to eat fast food, everyone will fall in line. Just like when the tax on cigarettes was jacked up here in NY.

You should stand for MRL.
Their 'idiot'-proposals also have a high tendency to become realised!

if fatty foods were taxed higher - would you still by them?[/B]
Since I don't now, why would I want to start? Down with fat foods! Heh!

You should stand for MRL.
Their 'idiot'-proposals also have a high tendency to become realised!

whats an mrl?..

*sigh*.. i'm getting bored

and i'm out of cherries :(

Since I don't now, why would I want to start? Down with fat foods! Heh!

well said!

I think this is a good idea. It fits in with the economics I know, fatty foods make people fat which creates a burden on society, so we tax the foods for their fattiness. Some people would still buy this type of stuff but probably less as what used to be considered a good deal now is less of one. Really, I think it will lead the fast food industry to create healthier products which would help society.

I think this is a good idea. It fits in with the economics I have, fatty foods make people fat which creates a burden on society, so we tax the foods for their fattiness. Some people would still buy this type of stuff but probably less as what used to be considered a good deal now is less of one. Really, I think it will lead the fast food industry to create healthier products which would help society.

that's the whole point... my idea was to increase the tax on fast food if they contain more than 10grams of fat, by a fixed percent - but also make it compulsary for them to have alternatives on offer. I know some chains have options, but there's more fat in some of their salad dressings then there is in their burgers

How exactly would you implement this? By carbohydrates, sugar, fat, calories, cholesteral? How would it relate to the size and quantity of the item?

How exactly would you implement this? By carbohydrates, sugar, fat, calories, cholesteral? How would it relate to the size and quantity of the item?

*sigh*.. i didnt get that technical, and neither has the government yet, it's just a proposal at this stage.. it's not like i'm running for office :)

that's the whole point... my idea was to increase the tax on fast food if they contain more than 10grams of fat, by a fixed percent - but also make it compulsary for them to have alternatives on offer. I know some chains have options, but there's more fat in some of their salad dressings then there is in their burgers
Yeah, well, right that was the point. I don't think that after the tax you will need to make healthier alternatives compulsory, I think the market will do that by itself afterwords. I have heard about their salads being very fatty as well.

I think it's only fair that they pay a tax on fatty foods, considering that the government (and thereby other taxpayers) pays for their healthcare.

Although this would create a catch 22 for the poor gluttons if you can't opt out of your NHS... can you opt out?

Sorta like "if you want to kill yourself by eating McDonald's every day, you can either pay a tax on it to help pay for your medical costs down the road, or you can opt out entirely"

As for implementation, I'm sure you could assemble a crack team of nutrionists to tackle it. They don't really have much else to do, do they?

I think it's only fair that they pay a tax on fatty foods, considering that the government (and thereby other taxpayers) pays for their healthcare.

Although this would create a catch 22 for the poor gluttons if you can't opt out of your NHS... can you opt out?

Sorta like "if you want to kill yourself by eating McDonald's every day, you can either pay a tax on it to help pay for your medical costs down the road, or you can opt out entirely"

As for implementation, I'm sure you could assemble a crack team of nutrionists to tackle it. They don't really have much else to do, do they?

oOooo i could hire gillian makeith - the hard nosed bitch

oOooo i could hire gillian makeith - the hard nosed bitch

With her a burger would probably cost a grand

What about people who have low weight problems and need to gain weight, or people who have been ill or on chemotherapy? Is a fat tax fair to them? Would they have to get a special dispensation fromthe government to eat foods that would help them gain weight? Why not just put everyone on puppet strings and operate them so they can't do anything the government doesn't want them to do? Or no! How about brain implants!

yeah i saw that and i think that's totally harsh, it'd be less discrimative to tax the products, not the people. There's no denying that some people have genitic or medical conditions that prevent them being a healthy weight, and they shouldnt be penalised because of it

yep like me. i cant help it if im fat.

*continues to eat big bowl of ice cream with a giant slab of cake on the side, washing it all down with a milkshake*

yep like me. i cant help it if im fat.

*continues to eat big bowl of ice cream with a giant slab of cake on the side, washing it all down with a milkshake*

yum, i want some

What about people who have low weight problems and need to gain weight, or people who have been ill or on chemotherapy? Is a fat tax fair to them? Would they have to get a special dispensation fromthe government to eat foods that would help them gain weight? Why not just put everyone on puppet strings and operate them so they can't do anything the government doesn't want them to do? Or no! How about brain implants!

if you were medically required to gain weight your Dr would recommend specific diets high protein and carbs, not necessarily burger king and macdonalds. I cant imagine a medical practitioner recommending a diet of junk food.

Besides, MY idea was to only tax items with a high percentage of fat - eat twice as much of fatty food under the limit :) .. muwahaha..

seriously.. it was an idea - i'm not saying for one minute that it SHOULD be like this - just saw the article and figured there'd be some strong views on it :)