Would taxing junk food work?

[Steff]

Came across this on the bbc news site this morning

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14669203

 

[Northerner]

I think that it would only have a chance if the tax was then used to subsidise the prices of healthier alternatives. I was just out shopping and it really struck me how expensive fruit and vegetables are becoming - I've certainly noticed significant increases over the past three years. I suspect however that the healthy stuff would stay expensive and the bad stuff just cost more...

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Junk food is already taxed isn't it? I seem to remember VAT being on sweets, crisps take aways etc, so if that's not tax what is?

 

[Steff]

I think that it would only have a chance if the tax was then used to subsidise the prices of healthier alternatives. I was just out shopping and it really struck me how expensive fruit and vegetables are becoming - I've certainly noticed significant increases over the past three years. I suspect however that the healthy stuff would stay expensive and the bad stuff just cost more...

Your not wrong Alan,some of us should do an experiement when where we go around the supermarket we shop in and look at the diffirences in price between junk food and the healthier things like fruit and veg,I bet the fruit would be more expensive,in my local supermarket there forever havng burgers for example at a ?1 but then I go and get a bag of pears and there nearly double that.

 

[Copepod]

VAT on food

From HMRC website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/forms-rates/rates/goods-services.htm

"Food and drink for human consumption is, in general, zero-rated but many items are standard-rated, including alcoholic drinks, confectionery, crisps and savoury snacks, food for catering or hot takeaways, ice cream, soft drinks and mineral water.

Because certain food and drink is zero-rated, so too are certain animals and animal feeds, and plants and seeds - if the animal or plant in question is normally used for human consumption."

Standard rate VAT is 20%.

 

[Natalie123]

I agree Alan, cheaper fruit and veg would help more than putting up the price of unhealthy foods. The silly thing about the current system is that staple, basic foods are tax free, like fruit and veg, bread, milk etc, and "luxury" items are taxed, this means that because cake comes under the bread category it is tax free. Its a really stupid system, someone needs to look at it in a more logical manner, how can cake be tax free and toilet paper be considered a luxury item 😱

 

[Pumper_Sue]

From HMRC website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/forms-rates/rates/goods-services.htm

"Food and drink for human consumption is, in general, zero-rated but many items are standard-rated, including alcoholic drinks, confectionery, crisps and savoury snacks, food for catering or hot takeaways, ice cream, soft drinks and mineral water.

Because certain food and drink is zero-rated, so too are certain animals and animal feeds, and plants and seeds - if the animal or plant in question is normally used for human consumption."

Standard rate VAT is 20%.

So the list you put is classed as junk food and as I said it's already taxed.
Funny enough the animal feed situation is not as clear cut.
Horse feed is zero rated for tax some dogs foods are taxed and some are not.
(working dog is not taxed) Cat food is taxed yet farmers can claim it back as cats are classed as pest control.
So basically the government makes the rules up as it goes along

 

[caffeine_demon]

One of the replies on breakfast this morning said that "fat people should just lose their driving license" 😡😱

any opinions???

 

[Northerner]

One of the replies on breakfast this morning said that "fat people should just lose their driving license" 😡😱

any opinions???

Ridiculous! I heard them talking this morning and they mentioned how many other problems that people have, they receive help for, such as smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, but the help for people trying to lose weight is very patchy and often not available at all. The health minister they had on totally avoided the question (don't they always) by just saying people need to eat healthily (duh!).

I think that the problems with taxing certain types of food will simply drive the manufacturers to devise even cheaper methods of production and lower quality ingredients so they can offset any tax increase. Either that or some families may be driven even lower down the 'value' pit and begin eating food they might previously have rejected as too low quality.

 

[StephenM]

Having had a day off on Monday and having gone to a large mall my first reaction would be yes! However being sensible, as Alan says, fruit and veg are becoming very expensive making healthy eating not totally viable. I know I now only buy fruit and veg that I will definately eat. Chucking anything would bring tears to the eyes and wallet!!!

 

[Northerner]

Having had a day off on Monday and having gone to a large mall my first reaction would be yes! However being sensible, as Alan says, fruit and veg are becoming very expensive making healthy eating not totally viable. I know I now only buy fruit and veg that I will definately eat. Chucking anything would bring tears to the eyes and wallet!!!

I think that's what annoys me the most - supermarkets often have deals like 'buy 3 for ?5' etc. which might represent better value for money but would be way too much for me, as a single person, to buy - why can't they just reduce the basic price and have ONE item for ?1.67 instead of ?2 per item? 😡 I tend to buy tinned fruit these days - 60p for a tin of sliced peaches that gives 3 servings (for me). Avoid the tins with 'syrup' though!

 

[Natalie123]

Alan, that's so true, there are two of us, but even still, the offers and cheaper large packs of stuff are just too big! It does annoy me when something is buy one get one free and it seems silly not to get the free pack but I know I'm unlikely to eat it! What's wrong with half price?

Another thing that doesn't help me to eat healthily is that some supermarket fruit is just not very nice, or not fresh. A local farm shop would be nicer and cheaper but unfortunately people don't use them and they go out of business, its so hard to find the time to travel around to use local shops when they are not all in the town centre.

 

[vince13]

I am probably going to be totally out of line with this but surely there is only so much Governments ought to do in this respect, giving health education for a start but then it has got to be up to people to take responsibility for their eating habits, smoking, alcohol consumption themselves. I know the NHS then often has to pick up the tab for people's mis-use of their own bodies but if the Government (of any complexion) step in too much they are accused of operating a "nanny state".

One thought though, don't some people know how to cook these days ? It can be very cheap to buy some cuts of meat and make a healthy and delcious meal - and this is from an OAP don't forget ! 😱

(disappears behind sofa to avoid flak !)

 

[Natalie123]

Faith - I think a lot of problems come down to lack of cooking ability. I went to a girl's school and had some cooking classes from 11 - 14 years old but my brother went to a boy's school and had no lessons at all! It would help for young people to be taught basic cooking skills like how to cook fish, meat and veg dishes and what to serve it with. Even though I had lessons, a lot of the stuff I learn was not helpful, like pastry dishes, pies and cake. I did learn how to do stir fries I think but that was the only healthy thing we did

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Faith - I think a lot of problems come down to lack of cooking ability. I went to a girl's school and had some cooking classes from 11 - 14 years old but my brother went to a boy's school and had no lessons at all! It would help for young people to be taught basic cooking skills like how to cook fish, meat and veg dishes and what to serve it with. Even though I had lessons, a lot of the stuff I learn was not helpful, like pastry dishes, pies and cake. I did learn how to do stir fries I think but that was the only healthy thing we did

Surely parents should teach their children to cook at home?
I know as a child all 3 of us kids were taught to cook. (2 brother and I)

vince13 I am probably going to be totally out of line with this but surely there is only so much Governments ought to do in this respect, giving health education for a start but then it has got to be up to people to take responsibility for their eating habits, smoking, alcohol consumption themselves. I know the NHS then often has to pick up the tab for people's mis-use of their own bodies but if the Government (of any complexion) step in too much they are accused of operating a "nanny state".

One thought though, don't some people know how to cook these days ? It can be very cheap to buy some cuts of meat and make a healthy and delcious meal - and this is from an OAP don't forget !

(disappears behind sofa to avoid flak !)

I agree 100% with you vince.
As to portions on offer being to big, stick em in the freezer. I have saved loads of money by doing this.

 

[Natalie123]

Sue - Yeah, my Mum taught me and my brother, but if the parents don't cook healthily or can't cook at all, then the children wont learn

 

[Steff]

I know im old fashioned but a child diet starts in the home,if you shove mcdonalds at babies still in high chairs then surely they become used to it.
I know exactly why im big now and so does my family I was spoilt as a child I was from a broken home my parents split when i was 3, and at weekends i would see my dad he would give me what I wanted food wise so i would eat and eat and he would see no harm,(btw thats my personal story im not saying kids from split familes all get this before I start getting battered for steroptyping)....Now he blames himself for my diabetes but i dont, because i moved out of home at 16 and was responsible for what i put in my mouth from then on.

 

[Andy HB]

One of the replies on breakfast this morning said that "fat people should just lose their driving license"

A bit left of field thinking there, but it has some merit!! (only kidding).

I think all food is so expensive these days, I doubt anyone will notice some of it being taxed even more.

Obesity is starting to be so much of a problem at a younger and younger age these days. Why not tackle it at source. Target the kids early. Educate them properly at school about sensible eating and make sure they get loads of exercise.

Andy 🙂

 

[Steff]

Why not tackle it at source. Target the kids early. Educate them properly at school about sensible eating and make sure they get loads of exercise.

Andy 🙂

Because when they go home there uneducated parent has chicken nuggets and chips on the table waiting for them,I say tackle the parents when there kids are at a early age,they after all will be cooking for there kid for the first 10 years or so of there lifes.

 

[jeni70]

I am over weight and have a little boy of 4 and i make sure he has a good healthy diet as there is no way i want him to end up like me! He loves his veg and fruits and thankfully is not at all keen on chips.