Should we introduce a &#x27;Fat Tax&#x27; to the UK?

OP

Original post by tengentoppa

Make fat people pay extra when they travel.

How do you propose we justify this? Perhaps, this will lead to fat people not travelling and sit at home, becoming fatter?

Reply 42

RF_PineMarten

100% NO to any sort of "fat tax". Food referred to as unhealthy isn't usually unhealthy until you eat too much of it - in moderation, it is harmless. And eating too much of anything can be harmful to you - including normally healthy foods.
Plenty of people eat fatty foods in moderation alongside other healthy foods, and they suffer no health problems whatsoever. The health impacts of this food depends a lot more on the person eating the food and how responsible they are with their diet than the food itself.

I enjoy some fatty foods every now and then but I get plenty of exercise and eat other foods as well, and I haven't suffered any health issues from it. Why exactly should responsible people such as myself be forced to pay more because of some other people who can't/don't/won't eat properly?

Start some education campaigns, and teach schoolkids about healthy eating from a young age. That way they'll grow up knowing how to eat a healthy diet, and unlike a "fat tax", you'll actually target the problem at its source. Teaching kids about growing your own food would also help them a lot and engage them with it a bit more so they enjoy it, with things like school gardens. And making sure healthy foods are a bit cheaper would help as well.

Reply 43

Ripper-Roo

No, people consume those products (snacks, fast food or fizzy drinks) knowing the health implications, if it's in moderation I don't think it's unhealthy anyway. I don't see why the government should potentially harm those industries, when people are more than happy to eat those foods. Actually people would buy junk food regardless, so it would be ineffective either way, it won't reduce demand. It's just another way for the government to get its greedy mitts onto people's money.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 44

OP

Original post by Lord Frieza

First get rid of Bedroom tax, as it stands, I am freezing and we can't afford hot water so please.

What is bedroom tax?

And I'm sorry :frown:

Put on some extra layers maybe?

Reply 45

Катя

It would hardly fix anything. Cigarettes and alcohol are taxed, and yet people still smoke and drink and fall ill and die from these substances.

Reply 46

ipoop

5

Original post by nivvy21

True, absurd, I know! But, how else do you kindly propose we get rid of the problem and you seem to love this emoticon :fuhrer:

and McFlurries :tongue:

I do love mein :fuhrer: :tongue:

Well I'm approaching this ban as I am cannabis really, and I want cannabis to be legalised. Hell cannabis causes less damage than junk food can. So if they did ban junk food and unbanned weed then hmmm maybe I'd be okay with that, I'd be too high to care anyway :tongue:

I think the tax could work, I'd be okay with it if healthy snacks companies received investments from the tax for them to produce more and make them cheaper :yep:

My last trip to Holland & Barret cost around £30 and that was for snack bars to get me through two weeks :zomg:

Reply 47

tengentoppa

Original post by nivvy21

How do you propose we justify this? Perhaps, this will lead to fat people not travelling and sit at home, becoming fatter?

They take up more space. On planes they charge you for extra luggage so it makes sense to charge people on their excess weight. If they want to stay at home and deteriorate that's their choice, but they should no longer receive NHS funding.

Reply 48

the mezzil

3

Original post by nivvy21

Again, agreed. So, we should ration all foods apart from fruit and veg? Please correct me if im wrong. I really think that TSR should compile all the different threads on issues like this and take them to the government!

I know! People comfort eat, they love food and etc :tongue:

Yes, again, agreed! I agree a lot :L

But, McD eaten on a regular basis is life-threatening, perhaps we should limit the number of times someone can visit fast food chains in a month?

I would say so yes, maybe an extra rasher of bacon and a little bit more cheese, but yes rations along the same line as what happened in WW2. Fruit and veg are excused, so there is no reason to go hungry, and people will have all the nutrition they need. Builders, policemen and people in other physical jobs would get a small extra protein and sugar allowance as they will need it due to their jobs, but everyone else will have more or less the same. Those with special dietary requirements will have different rations, so all will be included.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 49

OP

Original post by ipoop

I do love mein :fuhrer: :tongue:

Well I'm approaching this ban as I am cannabis really, and I want cannabis to be legalised. Hell cannabis causes less damage than junk food can. So if they did ban junk food and unbanned weed then hmmm maybe I'd be okay with that, I'd be too high to care anyway :tongue:

I think the tax could work, I'd be okay with it if healthy snacks companies received investments from the tax for them to produce more and make them cheaper :yep:

My last trip to Holland & Barret cost around £30 and that was for snack bars to get me through two weeks :zomg:

Agreed!

Reply 50

OP

Original post by the mezzil

I would say so yes, maybe an extra rasher of bacon and a little bit more cheese, but yes rations along the same line as what happened in WW2. Fruit and veg are excused, so there is no reason to go hungry, and people will have all the nutrition they need. Builders, policemen and people in other physical jobs would get a small extra protein and sugar allowance as they will need it due to their jobs, but everyone else will have more or less the same. Those with special dietary requirements will have different rations, so all will be included.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Hmm, I like this idea. Agreed.

Reply 51

the mezzil

3

Original post by nivvy21

Hmm, I like this idea. Agreed.

Far more effective than a fat tax.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 52

OP

Original post by tengentoppa

They take up more space. On planes they charge you for extra luggage so it makes sense to charge people on their excess weight. If they want to stay at home and deteriorate that's their choice, but they should no longer receive NHS funding.

True. But, is that not discrimination?

Reply 53

tengentoppa

Original post by nivvy21

True. But, is that not discrimination?

Absolutely, bur it's necessary. Smokers are discriminated against for their harmful affect on society. We should do the same to fat people.

Reply 54

Lord Frieza

13

Original post by nivvy21

What is bedroom tax?

And I'm sorry :frown:

Put on some extra layers maybe?

Wearing 3 layers, this cold pierces me like a bullet..

Bedroom tax is the tax they FORCE you to pay if someone leaves the room for 5 minutes.

Reply 55

tengentoppa

Original post by RFowler

Loads of people eat fatty foods but are perfectly healthy. What harm do they do to society?

You probably didn't catch the full conversation. I was saying we shouldn't have a tax on fatty food but penalise those who are obese and cause problems for society.

Reply 56

OP

Original post by Lord Frieza

Wearing 3 layers, this cold pierces me like a bullet..

Bedroom tax is the tax they FORCE you to pay if someone leaves the room for 5 minutes.

Oh, poor you!

What, that's ridiculous, where is this stupidity enforced?

Reply 57

RF_PineMarten

Original post by tengentoppa

You probably didn't catch the full conversation. I was saying we shouldn't have a tax on fatty food but penalise those who are obese and cause problems for society.

Yeah I realised that afterwards and deleted the post. Didn't read it through fully.

Reply 58

OP

Original post by tengentoppa

Absolutely, bur it's necessary. Smokers are discriminated against for their harmful affect on society. We should do the same to fat people.

Fair enough, agreed.

Reply 59

RF_PineMarten