Posted on 07/12/2007 5:27:52 AM PDT by beaureguard
LONDON (Reuters) - A "fat tax" on salty, sugary and fatty foods could save thousands of lives each year, according to a study published on Thursday.
Researchers at Oxford University say that charging Value Added Tax (VAT) at 17.5 percent on foods deemed to be unhealthy would cut consumer demand and reduce the number of heart attacks and strokes.
The purchase tax is already levied on a small number of products such as potato crisps, ice cream, confectionery and chocolate biscuits, but most food is exempt.
The move could save an estimated 3,200 lives in Britain each year, according to the study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
"A well-designed and carefully-targeted fat tax could be a useful tool for reducing the burden of food-related disease," the study concluded.
The team from Oxford's Department of Public Health said higher taxes have already been imposed on cigarettes and alcohol to encourage healthy living.
They used a mathematical formula to estimate the effect of higher prices on the demand for foods such as pastries, cakes, cheese and butter.
However, they said their research only gave a rough guide to the number of lives that could be saved and said more work was needed to get an exact picture of how taxes could improve public health.
Any "fat tax" might be seen as an attack on personal freedom and would weigh more heavily on poorer families, the study warned.
A food tax would raise average weekly household bills by 4.6 percent or 67 pence per person.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has previously rejected the idea as an example of the "nanny state" that might push people away from healthy food.
The Food and Drink Federation has called the proposed tax patronizing and says it would hit low-income families hardest.
It suggests that people eat a balanced diet.
The British Heart Foundation said it does not support the tax.
"We believe the government should focus on ensuring healthy foods are financially and geographically accessible to everyone," it said.
CSPI is taking their cue...
“No more Fish n’ Chips!? “Call out the Roundheads!”
Why does the gov. have to control our lives so freaking much.
The one song at the Freedom Concert on Tuesday that really rang home with me was a Charlie Daniels song:
People say I’m no good
I’m crazy as a loon
‘cause I get stoned in the morning,
I get drunk in the afternoon.
Kinda like my old blue tick hound
I like to lay around in the shade.
And I ain’t got no money
but I damn sure got it made.
‘Cause I ain’t askin’ nobody for nothin’
if I can’t get it on my own.
If you don’t like the way I’m livin’
You just leave this long haired country boy alone.
/rant
why don’t they call it what it is: Artificially pushing the price of certain goods out of the reach of the average consumer?
or perhaps - certain goods should only be enjoyed by the rich?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
And a Stupid Tax would increase tax revenues by 8 Billion Percent.
Geez, who knew the Beatles were prophetic?
One, two, three, four...
Hrmm!
One, two, (one, two, three, four!)
Let me tell you how it will be;
There’s one for you, nineteen for me.
‘Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.
Should five per cent appear too small,
Be thankful I don’t take it all.
‘Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.
(if you drive a car, car;) - I’ll tax the street;
(if you try to sit, sit;) - I’ll tax your seat;
(if you get too cold, cold;) - I’ll tax the heat;
(if you take a walk, walk;) - I’ll tax your feet.
Taxman!
‘Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.
Don’t ask me what I want it for, (ah-ah, mister Wilson)
If you don’t want to pay some more. (ah-ah, mister heath)
‘Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.
Now my advice for those who die, (taxman)
Declare the pennies on your eyes. (taxman)
‘Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.
And you’re working for no one but me.
Taxman!
What a load of BS. It's the money, all the money and nothing BUT the money.
“Fat VAT” nanny-state ping
You know, I’m not a smoker, but I saw this coming when they started jacking up cig taxes. After it’s become OK to tax fat, they’ll start taxing poops and sex.
I wonder how many lives could be saved from a tax on homo butt sex?
How many lives would be saved annually by a tax on Arrogance? Given that such a levy would fall disproportionately upon government bureaucrats, the benefits might be considerable.
Why in the world would anyone want to live in such a Nanny State atmosphere? The United States is fast trying to catch up with these statist socialists, but my goodness!
Coming soon to USA! Will begin with a blizzard of studies followed by a blitz of legislation. Along the way, anyone carrying a few extra pounds (above average: that means half the population) will be assigned to the new criminal class and punished for their guilt with new punitive taxes.
Smokers warned you, the precedents are in place.
Lumping salt into this is even more ridiculous.
Salt doesn’t make you fat, and has no adverse health effect for most people.
Soon it will include red meat and pizza.
The UK nanny state again deciding that you are too stupid to make the “right” choice so the government will force you to...coming soon to the US.
More Nanny state Nonsense.........
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.