Sugar tax

[hornetrider]

Really?!

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/oct/22/ja...

Is (say) a 20% levy on sugar based products really going to stop or discourage people buying them? I don't think so. They'll just face higher shopping bills.

A bag of sugar is a quid in the shops. Frankly I wouldn't bat an eyelid if it was £2, it's just a kitchen staple that gets put in the trolley along with everything else.

Is such a tax workable or of any tangible benefit?

[wolves_wanderer]

I would like a 105% windfall tax on thick-tongued, mockney tts.

[Hoofy]

It won't work. The tax on cigarettes is hardly putting off teenagers from smoking. Where the hell they get that kind of cash to blow on packets of cigarettes is beyond me.

So charging 7p extra a can won't mean SFA.

"Twinkie diet".

wolves_wanderer said:

I would like a 105% windfall tax on thick-tongued, mockney tts.

[roachcoach]

I'd rather get a tax rebate on calories burnt

[FredClogs]

Hoofy said:

"Twinkie diet".

I thinks that's something else...

I don't think it would be a terrible idea to incentivise people away from sugar, but remember - sugar was one of the first truly integrated global commodities and the industry has a lot of money and a lot of organised political influence. Don't be surprised if the government are prepared to take them on.

[bazza white]

5 or10% ish and put back into the NHS wouldn't bother me.

[otolith]

Not going to make any difference unless you start hiking the cost of all high sugar foods - wonder what the chattering classes would think of a 20% tax on their Manuka honey or balsamic vinegar?

[Uncle John]

Just another load of nonsense the government and the soon to be Jamie Oliver OBE........

[legzr1]

Contrary to a post above, taxation has had a great affect on children taking to smoking:


http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_108.pdf

From 1982-2014 the number of 15 year olds smoking has dropped from 24% to 8%.


Why wouldn't a sugar tax have a similar outcome?


£56 for a Mars Bar anyone?

[BoRED S2upid]

Article clearly states the gov have vetoed it it would never work. A tax on everything with sugar, just soft drinks? Where do you start or stop? Jamie is on a one man crusade against some huge players good luck with that he will be sir Jamie before long.

[Hoofy]

FredClogs said:

Hoofy said:

"Twinkie diet".

I thinks that's something else...

I don't think it would be a terrible idea to incentivise people away from sugar, but remember - sugar was one of the first truly integrated global commodities and the industry has a lot of money and a lot of organised political influence. Don't be surprised if the government are prepared to take them on.

They are blaming sugar on obesity.

"Twinkie diet".

[otolith]

legzr1 said:

Contrary to a post above, taxation has had a great affect on children taking to smoking:


http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_108.pdf

From 1982-2014 the number of 15 year olds smoking has dropped from 24% to 8%.


Why wouldn't a sugar tax have a similar outcome?


£56 for a Mars Bar anyone?

How do you know that was down to prices and not education or other anti-smoking measures? Have you considered plotting it against the number of pirates?

[Hoofy]

legzr1 said:

Contrary to a post above, taxation has had a great affect on children taking to smoking:


http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_108.pdf

From 1982-2014 the number of 15 year olds smoking has dropped from 24% to 8%.


Why wouldn't a sugar tax have a similar outcome?


£56 for a Mars Bar anyone?

Certainly, £56 a chocolate bar would affect things. Why not just ban them outright?

[legzr1]

otolith said:

How do you know that was down to prices and not education or other anti-smoking measures? Have you considered plotting it against the number of pirates?

I don't know.

But others seem to suggest it is true:

https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheet...


Now, these pirates?

[legzr1]

Hoofy said:

Certainly, £56 a chocolate bar would affect things. Why not just ban them outright?

No ban - the risk takers and top rate tax payers of this fine land are entitled to a treat.

If only they could afford to partake I guess the taste would be all the sweeter.




Perhaps...

[otolith]

legzr1 said:

I don't know.

But others seem to suggest it is true:

https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheet...

Still just opinion. No proof.

[turbobloke]

Sweet. Another pointless tax or charge in the offing because something must be done and that's something. Has a TV chef got a book deal in the offing?

[bodhi]

Can we not put a 105% tax on Olive Oil and bankrupt the fker? Getting a bit fed up of him deciding he wants to change the world (and get himself a Knghthood).

Jamie. I am well aware of how much sugar is in the lovely and refreshing can of Pepsi I'm drinking. And you know something? I do not care. I can just about figure out that if I start putting on weight I need to drink less of it. Kindly leave us the fk alone.

[andy-xr]

If it puts an end to the awful Haribo advertising I'm all for it. Unless it affects me negatively in which case it's a st idea

[vanordinaire]

Would deep-frying Mars bars make them tax exempt?