Should there be a tax on soft drinks?

[Redyam]

So that means these drinks will go up in pubs too, the price of these drinks is too high as it is, it is only carbonated water. But give the Govt an excuse to put the price up on the assumption that it is not good for you and they will probably jump at it.

 

Pubs already put a huge markup on carbanated drinks. They buy in huge vats of concentrated coca-cola syrup, and this is combined with carbonated water at the point of pouring. It costs them something like 3p a pint, but charge £2+.

Pubs could easily absorb the cost.

[southcoast]

Apparently they make you fat, have nothing but empty calories and are contributing to obesity and the lardy state.

 

"Leading medical bodies are calling for a 20p-per-litre levy on soft drinks to be included in this year's Budget.

 

More than 60 organisations, including the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, are backing the recommendation by food and farming charity Sustain.

 

They say it would raise £1bn a year in duty to fund free fruit and meals in schools to improve children's health."

 

Is this a brilliant idea that will raise money for much needed health education and nutritious school meals or is it the curmudgeonly, miserable busy bodies sticking their noses in where they aren't wanted?

 

 

Dont you think we are taxed enough as it is,some people eh.

[taxman]

Would it be healthier to remove the sugar and replace it with artificial sweetener? In this day and age when people want to be "organic" and natural surely replacing a natural substance, sugar, with some chemical flavouring would be even worse.

 

Like replacing good, wholesome butter with some hydrogenated, chlorinated margarine.

[JFKvsNixon]

Would it be healthier to remove the sugar and replace it with artificial sweetener? In this day and age when people want to be "organic" and natural surely replacing a natural substance, sugar, with some chemical flavouring would be even worse.

 

Like replacing good, wholesome butter with some hydrogenated, chlorinated margarine.

 

Which leads on to my question, do you believe that diet drinks should also come under the extra tax umbrella?

[taxman]

Which leads on to my question, do you believe that diet drinks should also come under the extra tax umbrella?

 

That depends on what the tax supporters are seeking to attack. "Unhealthy" food, "sweet" food, hi-carb food, fat food (which fats, saturated, polyunsaturated, extra-virgin olive oil?). Where will it end and who decides what is good food and what is bad.

 

 

Or maybe people should just exercise more.

[gnvqsos]

Dont you think we are taxed enough as it is,some people eh.

 

Taxing pop means the tax on toilet paper can be trimmed.

[taxman]

Dont you think we are taxed enough as it is,some people eh.

 

That all depends on whether or not you think the amount of tax you pay is worth the amount of benefits you receive.

 

If politicians take your taxes and waste them, then you elect a different politician. Unless, of course, they all waste your taxes....?

[Dromedary]

"Should there be a tax on soft drinks?"

 

No, we have the technology for them to be made without sugar in the first place.

[alchresearch]

But they taste awful. Its a shame that there is a need to tax simply because self moderation or regulation isn't working. What has the human race become?

[andygardener]

Or maybe people should just exercise more.

 

Bingo! We have a winner.