canbuywontbuy Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 The sugar tax is purely there as a "good news story", not meaningful legislation to bring about a healthier nation. We've had high sugar drinks for over 100 years. Obesity is a problem in the last 20 or so years. People get fat / diabetes type 2 from a sedentary life. The sugar tax is misdirection. Instead of talking about a dodgy economy, now we're talking about the sugar tax. Funny that the Jamie Oliver was just outside Westminster at the time of the budget - he puts it down to a coincidence. But anyway, the press got him to do his A-level jump for them. There's no way Osborne wouldn't have informed the big fizzy drinks companies well in advance that he would implement this tax in the March 2016 budget. He would have had to get the green light from them. Even though the new tax won't be introduced for 2 years, it needs approval from his business partners, and Osborne would have had to clear the way with the companies in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyrichie Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 ive drank 1 leter of cola a day 4 over 15 year and no diabetes, this tax really pisses me off, makes me feel bad 4 being health, wish i had diabetes then i could get free stuff instead of working to pay a ******** tax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Errol Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Interesting theory. I go with shape-shifting lizard people, myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noallegiance Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 I have to say I grinned when popular public figure Jamie Oliver was there to give it the lovely jubbly treatment. Standard sheep pleasing nonsense to inflate the least important of our collective worries. But then, modern budgets require a great depth of understanding to be able to see backstage whilst the magician is sawing the lady in half. I have many to thank on this forum for removing the wool from my eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vested Disinterest Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 yep, alcohol, takeaways and driving everywhere is what makes you fat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canbuywontbuy Posted March 17, 2016 Author Share Posted March 17, 2016 They should introduce exercise bikes in every house - the more miles you do, the lower your national insurance contributions are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiggerUK Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 It's a very clever tax in more ways than one. Diversion from problems with the economy, and nobody talking about a truly historical change in education. This will be a difficult tax for many to oppose, the healthistas will see to that. The expansion from 'sugary drinks' to sugar, and then fat, and then salt is a major money maker for the treasury..._ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noallegiance Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 They should introduce exercise bikes in every house - the more miles you do, the lower your national insurance contributions are. Or just leave people to learn the hard way rather than giving everybody get-out clauses regardless of their own behaviour. The death of responsibility happened a long time ago in this country. Establish cause. If it's your fault, tough. If it isn't, help is at hand. Old school toughness needs bringing back. We're a nation of dumbed down pussies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopGun Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Smoke and mirrors. Sugar is the headline, whilst the privatisation of education goes through unnoticed and unchallenged. God knows what other chicanery got burried under the sugar mountain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Executive Sadman Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 yep, alcohol, takeaways and driving everywhere is what makes you fat! Lets have an additional tax on sedentary office based jobs too, why not. Never saw many fat coal miners, farm hands or steel workers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenDevil Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Smoke and mirrors. Sugar is the headline, whilst the privatisation of education goes through unnoticed and unchallenged. God knows what other chicanery got burried under the sugar mountain. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canbuywontbuy Posted March 17, 2016 Author Share Posted March 17, 2016 Lets have an additional tax on sedentary office based jobs too, why not. Never saw many fat coal miners, farm hands or steel workers. They weren't fat because they drank the diet alternatives to the fizzy drinks. That MUST be the case given the sugar tax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shindigger Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Or just leave people to learn the hard way rather than giving everybody get-out clauses regardless of their own behaviour. The death of responsibility happened a long time ago in this country. Establish cause. If it's your fault, tough. If it isn't, help is at hand. Old school toughness needs bringing back. We're a nation of dumbed down pussies. Ive just been out with the dog on a bright sunny morning here in Dorset. 3 mothers, all with massive wide pushchairs, all sporting luminous high viz vests. We were in an open parkland environment. The houses they doubtless live in, are adjoining the park. The baby farm, as i call it. I scoffed in their general direction. What on earth were they worried about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shindigger Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Smoke and mirrors. Sugar is the headline, whilst the privatisation of education goes through unnoticed and unchallenged. God knows what other chicanery got burried under the sugar mountain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckin2up2down Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Im fine with the sugar tax. You look at most peoples supermarket shopping and its like they are trying to kill themselves. If we didn't have the NHS I wouldn't care a jot what strangers did to their bodies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Banner Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 I have to say I grinned when popular public figure Jamie Oliver was there to give it the lovely jubbly treatment. Standard sheep pleasing nonsense to inflate the least important of our collective worries. But then, modern budgets require a great depth of understanding to be able to see backstage whilst the magician is sawing the lady in half. I have many to thank on this forum for removing the wool from my eyes. Oliver referred to The Chancellor as "George" on BBC News yesterday, sounded like he's a friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Banner Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Im fine with the sugar tax. You look at most peoples supermarket shopping and its like they are trying to kill themselves. If we didn't have the NHS I wouldn't care a jot what strangers did to their bodies. They should scrap the NHS and let us take responsibility for our own lives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckin2up2down Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 They should scrap the NHS and let us take responsibility for our own lives. Agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePiltdownMan Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 When I was a kid in the 80s we had these fizzy drinks a few times a year, birthdays, Christmas and the like, not on a daily basis. Things have changed since then as I see co workers of the younger generation having them much more regularly. I'm no fan of any tax but it seems like one of the least worst. However I fully expect in a year or so there will be sob stories in the news of people on benefits who can't afford their weekly shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macfarlan Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Or just leave people to learn the hard way rather than giving everybody get-out clauses regardless of their own behaviour. The death of responsibility happened a long time ago in this country. Establish cause. If it's your fault, tough. If it isn't, help is at hand. Old school toughness needs bringing back. We're a nation of dumbed down pussies. Easier said than done. For e.g what about people born into poverty? They should scrap the NHS and let us take responsibility for our own lives. Sounds like you dont need it, or care about the people who do. Your comment makes you appear both ignorant and selfish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Banner Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Sounds like you dont need it, or care about the people who do. Your comment makes you appear both ignorant and selfish. Just me, or is everybody who would prefer not to have a state funded health system ignorant and selfish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kzb Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 If they taxed TV cookery programmes they could do away with income tax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormymonday_2011 Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 The sugar tax is purely there as a "good news story", not meaningful legislation to bring about a healthier nation. We've had high sugar drinks for over 100 years. Obesity is a problem in the last 20 or so years. People get fat / diabetes type 2 from a sedentary life. The sugar tax is misdirection. Instead of talking about a dodgy economy, now we're talking about the sugar tax. Funny that the Jamie Oliver was just outside Westminster at the time of the budget - he puts it down to a coincidence. But anyway, the press got him to do his A-level jump for them. There's no way Osborne wouldn't have informed the big fizzy drinks companies well in advance that he would implement this tax in the March 2016 budget. He would have had to get the green light from them. Even though the new tax won't be introduced for 2 years, it needs approval from his business partners, and Osborne would have had to clear the way with the companies in the first place. Some studies suggest we eat as much as 600 kilocalories a day less than 30 years ago http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/wellbeing/diet/10126042/Britons-getting-fatter-despite-consuming-fewer-calories.html http://www.cityam.com/224147/calorie-consumption-has-been-falling-for-decades In addition sugar consumption has been falling over the same period That suggests the situation is a bit more complex than the Chancellor and some health experts claim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planit Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 In addition sugar consumption has been falling over the same period Have you any evidence on this? I thought it was the other way round, sugar is added to everything these days. (even the salad I bought from Tesco the other day had sugar added to the chicken, the sauce and the peppers) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCountOfNowhere Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 The sugar tax is purely there as a "good news story", ANY TAX....IS BAD NEWS !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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