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IEA - The poorest would be hit the most by a tax on sugary snacks
IEA comments on the proposal for a tax on sugary snacks
Commenting on the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine’s report which suggests a tax on sweet snacks could lead to reductions in the amount of sugar purchased, Christopher Snowdon of the Institute of Economic Affairs says:
“Why doesn’t the government just give us ration cards and be done with it? This study shows us where we are heading if we keep capitulating to the fanatics. What people eat is none of the Government’s business and there is no reason why people in Britain, most of whom are not obese, should be ripped off in this way.
“There needs to be a moratorium on all nanny state bans and taxes while we wait to see how the regressive sugar tax and Public Health England’s food reformulation scheme plays out. The early indications are that consumers are unhappy with both of them.”
Notes to editors:
For media enquiries please contact Stephanie Lis, Director of Communications: slis@iea.org.uk or 0207 799 8909 or 07766 221 268
IEA briefings:
To download The Sugar Levy, click here
To download Sugar Taxes, click here.
The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems and seeks to provide analysis in order to improve the public understanding of economics.
The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.
