INDEPENDENT NEWS

Fat tax has fat chance of success

Published: Wed 25 Jun 2003 04:51 PM
Fat tax has fat chance of success
Labour's plans to bring in a health tax on fast food show the Government has gone tax mad, says National Health Spokesperson Dr Lynda Scott.
"This tax is patently ridiculous. If you eat any food in too high a quantity you will put on weight.
'It is people's choice what they eat without Government interference. If the Government believes that people are eating too many burgers then regulation and taxation is not going to reduce consumption.
"Education and providing information to the public about healthy living, exercise and food consumption is the way to go.
"This proposal is not based on sound evidence. It is another example of this Government wanting to rule peoples' daily lives with an iron fist. "It also singles out particular businesses and those who eat their food unfairly," says Dr Scott.

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