The fat’s in the fire
How many of us can resist a juicy burger, that last slice of pizza or a tall glass of chilled cola? But these yummy items, with little or no nutritional value, go straight to the hips. And the worst is that more and more Indians are consuming such fatty foods. Doctors, parents and health policymakers are all worried about the increasing obesity in the country. Junk foods, sedentary lifestyles and lack of exercise are contributing to this worrisome and growing trend. We might be raising a generation of overweight youngsters who will be prime candidates for all kinds of diseases.
The decision by Denmark to impose a “fat tax” on all things that contribute to obesity therefore should be closely studied. Danish citizens buying burgers, cheese, butter, pizzas and those mouth-watering pastries — in short, anything with saturated fats — will now have to pay more. This might, it is hoped, discourage them from over-consuming such harmful things. This path-breaking move will no doubt cheer up mothers who despair of their kids wolfing down chips while playing video games.
But government interference in people’s dietary habits does have a bit of the nanny about it. Should it not be left to the consumer to decide what to eat and drink? Libertarians worry that the next step could well be telling people not to watch junk television. The more immediate question is — will fast food fans worry about paying that extra bit to get their hands on their favourite double-cheese burger with fries?
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