Some people believe that that there should be a taxation on junk food by the government to incentivize their residents to cultivate healthy eating habits. Personally, I believe that there are both advantages and disadvantages about this issue.
On the one hand, there are many reasons why instigating a tax on unhealthy food can be effective in encouraging people to eat healthier. Initially, there will probably be a reduction in junk food consumption. As prices rise, they will become unaffordable to consumers. This will result in the expenditure limitation by individuals, so their eating habits will be altered into a healthier diet. A prime example is the US government’s tax on imported fast food ingredients, which led to a decrease in fast food sales revenue. Additionally, this policy can reduce the risk of diseases. This is because unhealthy food often contains harmful additives, which harm public health, for instance, color additives can lead to terminal diseases, such as cancer.
On the other hand, this policy has some drawbacks. First, people living below the poverty line can be affected. Low-income individuals can eat unhealthy food despite its negative effect because it is more affordable than healthy food. Taxing junk food can create more financial difficulties for them. To illustrate, a burger is often cheaper than a full meal. Another limitation is that raising their prices may not make addicts improve their eating habits. A reason for this is that there are many instructions for making fast food on the internet, thanks to the development of technology, so people can make it by themselves without being taxed indirectly.
In conclusion, putting a tax on junk food has many advantages but also has drawbacks. Although it can reduce the junk food consumption and enhances public health, it affects low-income individuals and sometimes has no effect on addicts. The authorities should investigate measures to tackle this problem, such as raising public awareness, because this solution still has many weaknesses.