Governments In Many Countries Have Recently Introduced Special Taxes On Sugary Foods And Beverages | Band 7.5 IELTS Essay Sample

Governments in many countries have recently introduced special taxes on foods and beverages with high levels of sugar. Some think these taxes are a good idea while others disagree. Discuss both views and give you own opinion.

Here is a band 8 IELTS essay on this topic written by one of our students. Need help with IELTS writing? Get your IELTS essays, letters and reports corrected by me.

Band 7.5 IELTS essay sample

There is no doubt that diabetes is one of the common diseases found among middle aged people across the world. In order to control this, governments are taking preventive actions by introducing / through the introduction of additional taxes on food and beverages with high sugar level. Although many people believe that this an excellent step by the Government, others argue that this might not be really helpful. In this essay, I will discuss both the views and lend my support for the former one.

A large number of people believe that increasing the taxes on food and beverages will only fill government’s coffers with additional money. Additionally, paying the extra tax would increase the burden on middle class people and might even deprive them of sugary products. Furthermore, this would adversely impact the manufacturers of these products and they might have to bear heavy losses due to falling demand.

On the other hand, this step by government would discourage people from buying food and beverages with high sugar content. This is not only beneficial for adults but also for children, who are tempted by a lot of sugary items such as soft drinks and chocolates. These are the major causes of obesity and hypertension in young children. According to a recent report, increased taxes on Pepsi and Coke have decreased their sale by 30 percent as compared to the last year. Therefore, this could be helpful in controlling the increasing number of diabetic patients. In other words, this measure will do wonders for public health and help both the government and the people to reduce their spending on medical treatment.

In conclusion, though it might look like a rigid step taken by the regulating bodies, I believe, it can turn out to be extremely helpful for everyone, and will make them healthier and fitter.

Band 8 IELTS essay sample

People are consuming sugar as part of their diet worldwide, and it is harmful to the body, so several governments have imposed a special levy on foods and drinks to curb excess sugar intake. While some support this action, others criticize it. In my opinion, such a harsh measure is wrong and does not really help in improving people’s health.

On the one hand, it is believed that raising taxes on sugary foods and beverages might reduce the frequent consumption of such items. Many people take them daily because they are mostly affordable, and taking them regularly causes various health problems, including obesity and heart disease. Hence, if there is a higher tax on these foods, people will limit their consumption and that will improve their overall wellbeing. Furthermore, this action will raise additional revenue for the government. This can be a good way to generate funds for health awareness campaigns to engage and empower individuals and communities to choose healthy eating habits.

On the other hand, I support the view that taxing sweetened foods and drinks is not a good measure for several reasons. Firstly, governments ought to respect individuals’ voluntary choices when it comes to their diet. Intervening in their eating habits tends to create a greater restriction on citizens’ freedom. Secondly, a high sugar diet is not the only reason why people are unhealthy. Factors such as genetics and lifestyle play a crucial role in fitness. For example, sedentary lifestyles have wide-ranging adverse impacts on the human body. Therefore, taxing people’s diet is not the best way to tackle poor health.

To conclude, although some people think that imposing a special levy on drinks and junk foods containing high amounts of sugar has numerous benefits, I believe this move meddles with people’s private lives and is not the ultimate solution to the deteriorating health of the populace.

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