Society & Culture & Entertainment
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Fat Tax
It is estimated that 1.7 billion people in the world are either overweight or obese. The concept of a 'Fat tax' was first introduced in the early 1980s, in none other than the fat capital of the world, the United States of America. Put simply, a fat tax can manifest itself in two forms. One: the government can increase the price of fatty foods like chocolates, McDonald's burgers and the like. Or more interestingly, two: people can be taxed more or less based on their body fat percentage.
I know, sounds absurd no? But there is a strong case for a fat tax. According to an economics website, it is estimated that 3000 lives can be saved every year in the UK alone. Add this to the medical costs saved in treating obese people every year, and we have an economically viable tax option. Moreover, most governments in the world are already doing this in principle, when they charge high prices for cigarettes and alcohol. Shouldn't we treat fatty foods in the same category? A Marlboro deposits tar in your lungs, while a Big Mac slowly clogs your arteries. Similar right?
I personally have mixed feelings about such a concept. I fear that a society will be created, where slimness is perceived as a virtue. That's screwed up on many levels, with problems like anorexia already quite widespread. Beauty products have already made our perception of 'beautiful' very stereotypical, and a fat tax would send a similar message to society. Also, logically, I doubt a fat tax (in the first sense of the two mentioned above) would work. I mean, taxing cigarettes and alcohol hasn't really reduced the consumption of either. So by that logic, it would be a failure on two counts - sending a wrong message to society and not achieving the intended outcome.
On the other side of the argument, I do believe that people should hold responsibility for their actions. For example, if I were to choose to donate one of my organs to someone, I would much rather choose a non-smoker rather than a smoker. I believe that by smoking, the guy has made a choice to risk his life, and he should bear the consequences. Same way, it costs big money to keep obese people healthy. Taxing people according to their body fat would be logical in that regard.
Recently, a committee of doctors in the UK rejected a proposal to tax chocolate. Why chocolate?! Chocolate is sacred! Human beings have got to be the most destructive race in the universe! But then, to think about it statistically, the number of obese people is increasing. With that, the chances of a fat tax being approved keep getting lower. If it is in our best interests, we may need to act soon.
I don't know, I don't really have a fixed stand on this issue. Opinions are welcome, encouraged even. Its food for thought, to use a horrible pun.
I know, sounds absurd no? But there is a strong case for a fat tax. According to an economics website, it is estimated that 3000 lives can be saved every year in the UK alone. Add this to the medical costs saved in treating obese people every year, and we have an economically viable tax option. Moreover, most governments in the world are already doing this in principle, when they charge high prices for cigarettes and alcohol. Shouldn't we treat fatty foods in the same category? A Marlboro deposits tar in your lungs, while a Big Mac slowly clogs your arteries. Similar right?
I personally have mixed feelings about such a concept. I fear that a society will be created, where slimness is perceived as a virtue. That's screwed up on many levels, with problems like anorexia already quite widespread. Beauty products have already made our perception of 'beautiful' very stereotypical, and a fat tax would send a similar message to society. Also, logically, I doubt a fat tax (in the first sense of the two mentioned above) would work. I mean, taxing cigarettes and alcohol hasn't really reduced the consumption of either. So by that logic, it would be a failure on two counts - sending a wrong message to society and not achieving the intended outcome.
On the other side of the argument, I do believe that people should hold responsibility for their actions. For example, if I were to choose to donate one of my organs to someone, I would much rather choose a non-smoker rather than a smoker. I believe that by smoking, the guy has made a choice to risk his life, and he should bear the consequences. Same way, it costs big money to keep obese people healthy. Taxing people according to their body fat would be logical in that regard.
Recently, a committee of doctors in the UK rejected a proposal to tax chocolate. Why chocolate?! Chocolate is sacred! Human beings have got to be the most destructive race in the universe! But then, to think about it statistically, the number of obese people is increasing. With that, the chances of a fat tax being approved keep getting lower. If it is in our best interests, we may need to act soon.
I don't know, I don't really have a fixed stand on this issue. Opinions are welcome, encouraged even. Its food for thought, to use a horrible pun.
