Sugar tax?

No, this, like alcohol duties, unfairly hit those who are responsible.

I don't want to pay twice as much for a Big Mac because there are obese people in this country, it ain't my fault their only movement is to the mcdonalds and back.

Plus, production will just be switched to salt or artificials such as aspartame, sugar taxing is not really a good idea.

Forcing producers to switch to artificial sweeteners would be good. Granted, humans are a bit retarded in that if you force them to eat a more healthy option in one place then they go and eat an unhealthy option in another which means that they don't actually benefit from having the healthy option.

But artificial sweeteners themselves are not bad for you in any obvious way, yet the reduced calories would certainly benefit quite a few people.

Still I agree though that such a policy would be silly just because it merely shifts preferences elsewhere and doesn't tackle the underlying problem of the people being motivated to consume such themselves. You then punish others who are healthy and it's just generally not worthwhile.

Whoa who whoa, aspartame, an artificial sweetener, is said to be more deadly than sugar...

I think there are some things the government can do but I think a tax on sugar will just mean people will spend more on sugar because it costs more rather than the other way round. I think they could propose more advertising restrictions for more sugary products and possibly subsidise healthy foods rather than subsidising large sugar companies.

Also more investment in healthy eating campaigns could be good - especially in schools. They should focus on educating kids on how to cook healthy food but also how to do so on a budget and how to do so with limited time. Often people eat some unhealthy, high in added sugar foods because they think it is quicker and cheaper which isn't good. My food education at school was super unhealthy looking back, like making pizza etc.

The government needs to do something because otherwise we could have a huge issue on our hands. To suggest the government should just leave the issue because 'people should diet' is totally mad. If it was that easy everyone would just do it. It won't be good for the economy, it won't be good for the NHS etc. If we don't do something it will only get worse.