It is necessary to impose a higher tax on junk foods

Some governments believe it is necessary to impose a higher tax on junk food because an increasing number of people are suffering from health problems as a result of eating too much of this type of food.

What do you think about this?

Sample Response

In the past decade, the use of low-nutrient foods has expanded considerably, leading to a variety of health problems. Therefore, the government suggests that imposing high taxes on unhealthy foods will discourage their consumption. This idea is tempting, but I disagree with it.

Undoubtedly, an increase in the price of convenience foods will dissuade some consumers from purchasing them. They will either avoid it or choose alternatives that are more economical, resulting in a decline in junk food consumption. Aside from that, this development will set a positive precedence for the general public and cause them to reconsider their decisions. In the United Kingdom, for instance, the establishment of a high price on alcohol and tobacco products has led to a decline in smoking and drinking rates.

However, an increase in the cost of low-nutrient foods does not appear to be an effective strategy for preventing health-related diseases. First, if consumers have established a liking for a luxury food item, they will purchase it regardless of its price. Despite the fact that pizza and burgers are significantly more expensive than stir-fry on average, individuals nevertheless prefer them to fulfil their taste buds. Instead of increasing the price of convenience foods, more effort should be put into enhancing the flavour of healthy foods. In addition, the majority of individuals are uninformed of the consequences of consuming junk food frequently. Therefore, governments should organise health programmes to raise awareness about the negative impacts of junk food intake and recommend ways to live a healthy lifestyle.

Instead of imposing large taxes on unhealthy foods, alternative intelligent and long-term initiatives should be used to address health issues.

Remark on the essay

In this essay, the prompt asks, “what do you think” which indirectly refers to your opinion. So, this is a simple opinion essay. You should not incorporate alternative views of other people in such essays.