Health

British PM Cameron Considering Fat Tax in U.K.

David Cameron Considering Fat Tax in Britain

As health concerns in the United Kingdom grow, Conservative Party Prime Minister David Cameron is reportedly considering introducing a “fat tax” to trim down Britain’s obesity problem.

Reflecting on the new tax in Denmark on foods that contain more than 2.3% saturated fat, Cameron told interviewers at his Party’s conference in Manchester, “I think it is something that we should look at.”

The Guardian reports that Cameron went on to more or less say that at least his country is healthier than America:

“‘But frankly, do we have a problem with the growing level of obesity? Yes. Do we have a kind of warning in terms of – look at America, how bad things have got there – what happens if we don’t do anything? Yes, that should be a wake-up call.’

He added: ‘I am worried about the costs to the health service, [and] the fact that some people are going to have shorter lives than their parents.’

He warned that obesity was on the verge of overtaking smoking and drinking as the biggest health challenge facing Britain.”

The Danish tax saw negative reactions from many citizens, as the BBC News reports consumers have begun to hoard products before the tax goes into effect, scientists have said saturated fat is the wrong target, and producers have called the tax a bureaucratic nightmare.

Before bashing American waistlines, Cameron should perhaps look in the mirror. A recent BUPA study found that the middle-aged in Britain in comparison to their peers worldwide are more overweight, more depressed, and more likely to smoke 10 or more cigarettes a day. In early September, Scottish officials took four obese children away from their parents after warnings to help their kids trim down apparently failed, despite parental efforts to make a healthier home.

In closing his response to interviewers, Cameron said in regards to the nanny-state policy “Don’t rule anything out, but let‘s look at the evidence and let’s look at the impact on families.”

Comments (16)

  • dirtydog1776
    Posted on October 6, 2011 at 9:01am

    Too many fat people because there are too many people on their lavish benefit system, sitting around on their butts, having too many children. Put them to work cleaning out the sewers, cleaning up the streets and slums, that will melt the fat away.

    Report Post » dirtydog1776  
  • murmai
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 2:22pm

    well i do understand why you teabaggers would be upset at a fat tax it would probably bankrupt your entire movement on the up side they might implement a tooth tax in that case you guys will thrive or maybe an IQ tax and you guys would have to pay nothing ha ha ha

    Report Post »  
  • TH30PH1LUS
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 1:43pm

    Once-Great Britain,

    Obesity is NOT your problem – multiculturalism, unchecked immigration, creeping sharia law, lowered birth rates, constant surveillance by a police-state, a socialist government that has stripped you of firearms, are among your TRUE problems.

    I’m sorry to have to say I doubt you possess the guts and determination to undo what has been done to you. I did enjoy my time in your country many years ago. I wonder if someday my great-grandkids will gather around and listen to my stories of an England that still spoke English?

    Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
  • JoeTexan
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:07pm

    This whole anti-fat movement is really just the beginning of what happened in the 1930′s. This is socialist creep towards the “perfect race”. I imagine the day will come when there are fines, special fees and even jail time for the overweight. Eventually “camps” will be needed – imagine that. My point is that the aryan nation was AGAINST ANYONE who was not physically perfect. When they do things like this they are simply disguising their disgust with the overweight. They point their fingers at us while they smoke their lungs away and nuke their brain cells. 1930′s here we go again.

    Report Post »  
  • don young
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 10:27am

    Oh hell lets have a breathing air tax and drinking water tax.

    Report Post »  
  • enigmaman
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:11am

    Call it what you will its just another “tax” under the guise of protecting the people from themselves. Does anybody really believe a “fat” tax will change behavior in any serious way, the UK government should hope not otherwise any “fat tax” revenue collected would be inconsequential and just impact the poor more then any other group.

    Report Post »  
  • simply one voice
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:08am

    How about the extreme taxes already crippling the British citizenry in order to keep the Royalty’s obese and cozy, comfort styles, clothes, cars and parties on their vast estates and unearned lofty salaries, Conservative Party Prime Minister David Cameron?

    Report Post » simply one voice  
  • roadhog
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 2:07am

    In the Land of Limies and Queen Lovers with the worsed Food in the world The Nut Jobs want a Fat Tax . Start with Fat Ass Fergie and her Fat and Urgly kids.

    Report Post »  
  • WeeDontNeedNoSteeeenkinBadges
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 1:58am

    “British PM Cameron Considering Fat Tax in U.K.”

    Hello … sorry there … typo here. Mean to write:
    “British PM Cameron Considering Fat-head Tax in U.K.”

    Report Post » WeeDontNeedNoSteeeenkinBadges  
  • grannygrottbags
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 1:36am

    Here, the article says it all: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2045364/David-Cameron-Every-household-pay-debts.html paying particular attention to the second photo.

    Report Post »  
  • peteto1
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 1:08am

    Hey, UK!! What’s it like to live in a Communist country?? If you can’t even EAT what you want in your country, are you REALLY free?? I dare say NOT…………

    Report Post »  
    • grannygrottbags
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 2:12am

      Little plots of spare land can be ‘hired’ here for between £50 to £100 a year, they’r called allotments, granted wer‘e not talking ’acres’ (not in the north anyway) but they can be a fair size and big enough to grow for whole families and, in the past have hired two alottments back to back *smiles*, now i own my own home and have two gardens, both filled with year round food, i use raised beds, clotches and mel bartholemews square foot gardening, greenehouse, eight chickens, pond filled with fish and a cat lol.My family eat healthy, never used a pesticide or herbicide and get an excellent yield, nothing to do with having a green thumb, everything to do with determination and loads of reading and looking up….if i was allowed to keep a cow, i’d get one lol however, i do know people who keep anything from goats, to Llama’s, to ostriches in penrith, now THATS an egg LMAO, course…they have to be licensed. There are also plenty of small organic meat farms here, a lot with licensed butchers who sell theyr own meat and, organic boxed deliveries fruit and veg….pick up your own, no delivery charge of course.I’m not overweight but, being over half a century old i do have my little battery pack in front Lol, i need that to work on my gardens Lmao. Whats it like to live here in UK?…..right now its getting ‘interesting’. Times are changing, be prepared. Oh, and at last ive found a pressure canner on amazon that will send to UK so now i can add to my jams, pickle

      Report Post »  
    • grannygrottbags
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 2:30am

      cont:
      and jellies, http://www.browfarmwheatproducts.co.uk/grain_mill.htm takes care of my grains needs, theyr not certified organic but, they dont use chemicals either. I have a stokli dehydrator, i have a Pro 5L sausage maker (hand cranked), i use a small brinkman smoker and i still hand wash using an old fashioned wash board lol (though, saving up for a washing machine). We have several sources of heating and enjoy nothing more than building up the fire in our own back garden….
      …interesting times indeed.

      Report Post »  
    • grannygrottbags
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 3:26am

      Here, some links : http://www.ostrich.org.uk/products/meat.html http://www.smallholder-agriculture.co.uk/Breeders/ostrich_for_sale/ ..My favorite place to take the grandkids when i can get here: http://www.ostrich-world.com/ …I got my chickens here : http://www.happychicks.co.uk/ and am nearly ready for ducks (landrunners though), don’t think the neighbours will tollerate the noise from geese though!!, Bronze turkey for christmas though, if i get a pair i might just keep them and breed.I’m also interested in quail, pheasant and grouse…one step at a time lol.

      Report Post »  
  • netmail
    Posted on October 4, 2011 at 11:03pm

    The cheapest (to produce) so called “foods” are sugar, white flour and fatty meats. They’re addicting. They’re tremendously profitable. They create scores of health problems. It’s not like the food industry, nutritionists and health care professionals haven’t known this since day one. They have. It’s about money and filling needs…for money, of course. Taxing fat will just be adding insult to injury though and creating more burdens for those who can’t take anymore financial pressures. What this WILL create is more shop lifters, armed robberies and the ‘Cheeto defense’ in English courtrooms. IMO, education and affordable, tasteful alternatives is the place to start…NOT TAXATION.

    Report Post »  
  • NewContinentalArmy
    Posted on October 4, 2011 at 10:29pm

    I guess British conservatism and American conservatism are completely different.

    http://www.conservativedrypowder.blogspot.com

    Report Post » NewContinentalArmy  

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