It is noticeable that consuming fast food on a prolonged basis will develop various diseases. To solve this problem, some countries plan to increase the tax on fast food. This measure, however, is neither efficient nor effective in my opinion.
Imposing a higher tax on fast food only has a marginal impact on preventing people from eating too much junk food. For ordinary people, the low price of fast food is not the primary reason for them to choose this kind of food. Most of them prefer fast food instead of healthy food just because they put convenience on a higher priority than health. Therefore, although an increment on tax will result in a higher price, many consumers may still choose fast food. On the other hand, some people choose fast food because they do not have alternatives. Healthy food, such as organic food, usually have a higher price which might not be affordable for those people. Therefore, if the price of fast food goes higher, there will be much fewer choices of foods for them, which will eventually lead them to a harder life.
Compared with increasing tax, making healthy food more convenient and more affordable to citizens might be a better solution for government. Exerting an excessive amount of Interference in the market could cause damage to the local economy. The government, therefore, should try to avoid such risky behaviour. Instead, they can encourage the consumption of healthy food. For example, the commercial cultivation of organic foods can be facilitated so that consumers can buy healthy foods with lower price. Additionally, spending the budget on promoting a healthy lifestyle through education and training to consumers is another practical solution for the problem caused by fast food.
In conclusion, to cope with the health issue caused by an excessive consumption of fast food, the government should focus on advertising the healthy lifestyle to the citizen, rather than simply charging a higher tax on fast food.
It is noticeable that consuming
fast
food
on a prolonged basis will develop various diseases. To solve this problem,
some
countries plan to increase the
tax
on
fast
food
. This measure,
however
, is neither efficient nor effective in my opinion.
Imposing a higher
tax
on
fast
food
only
has a marginal impact on preventing
people
from eating too much junk
food
. For ordinary
people
, the low
price
of
fast
food
is not the primary reason for them to choose this kind of
food
. Most of them prefer
fast
food
instead
of
healthy
food
just
because
they put convenience on a higher priority than health.
Therefore
, although an increment on
tax
will result in a higher
price
,
many
consumers may
still
choose
fast
food
.
On the other hand
,
some
people
choose
fast
food
because
they do not have alternatives.
Healthy
food
, such as organic
food
,
usually
have a higher
price
which might not be affordable for those
people
.
Therefore
, if the
price
of
fast
food
goes higher, there will be much fewer choices of
foods
for them, which will
eventually
lead them to a harder life.
Compared with increasing
tax
, making
healthy
food
more convenient and more affordable to citizens might be a better solution for
government
. Exerting an excessive amount of Interference in the market could cause damage to the local economy. The
government
,
therefore
, should try to avoid such risky
behaviour
.
Instead
, they can encourage the consumption of
healthy
food
.
For example
, the commercial cultivation of organic
foods
can
be facilitated
so
that consumers can
buy
healthy
foods
with lower
price
.
Additionally
, spending the budget on promoting a
healthy
lifestyle through education and training to consumers is another practical solution for the problem caused by
fast
food.
In conclusion
, to cope with the health issue caused by an excessive consumption of
fast
food
, the
government
should focus on advertising the
healthy
lifestyle to the citizen,
rather
than
simply
charging a higher
tax
on
fast
food
.