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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To love the idea of a "sugar tax?"

137 replies

Toomanyhouseguests · 23/06/2014 10:20

I really do try to be good, but sugar is so cheap and inviting that the kids diets are a constant, relentless battle that I always lose in the end.

I know it is nannying, but I love this idea:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27961475

The environment that I live in is a constant onslaught from outside the home of sugar. Sugar from school, sugar from neighbours, sugar from church, sugar from kids clubs etc. If that environment changed because junk wasn't so cheap, it would certainly help me! And, if I am honest, it would change some of my shopping habits. My husband loves snacks and treats as much as the kids do, but he also wants the monthly shopping budget to stay under control.

Anyone else feeling this way? Or am I the only one unable to hold the line here?

OP posts:
Xcountry · 23/06/2014 10:56

I don't think the problem is necessarily just the sugar, Kids these days are lazy and don't go out enough. Too much I'things, Ipods, Ipads etc and not enough get the fuck out my house and go and play with your friends outdoors play. Like everyone else says, police yourself. You are the parent - just say no, if the ask again say no again.

Cornettoninja · 23/06/2014 11:28

nancy, I have to say that I cut a little break on the personal responsibility thing.

I think I'm right in observing the fact that we (westerners) have probably never experienced such an abundant and reliable supply of food. I'm not altogether surprised that it's come to what it has in the last forty odd years as no one ever seems to acknowledge that there's not much precedence on how to handle an over fed population.

timetoclean · 23/06/2014 12:19

I think they should just have limits on the amount of sugar (and salt) allowed to be in food/drink products. Anything over that amount has to go in a shopping aisle that is very narrow so you can only fit down it if you have a healthy BMI.

WorraLiberty · 23/06/2014 12:21

Christ, when will people take responsibility for what they put in their own mouths and the mouths of their kids.

It's a bloody stupid idea.

AgaPanthers · 23/06/2014 12:25

I don't see a particular problem with sugar and children. The only thing I can think of that is sugary and which constitutes food is breakfast cereal.

All the other things - sweets, soft drinks, etc., these are not food, and they don't need to find their way regularly into your shopping basket.

minipie · 23/06/2014 12:26

I'd rather see better information.

So for example any product where sugar is one of the top 5 ingredients should have to say - IN BIG LETTERS ON THE FRONT - that it contains X grams of sugar.

That would reveal the "hidden" sugar in soups, yoghurts, pasta sauces etc and might encourage the manufacturers to cut down.

I agree it's unhelpful if sweet things are handed out at school as parents don't have control there. I think we all need to get a bit braver about saying "I don't want you (school) to give my child chocolate/sweets" or at least "not more than X times per year". If enough parents say this they will change the habit.

caruthers · 23/06/2014 12:29

Educate people on the right way to eat but do we really need laws for everything?

thatwhichwecallarose · 23/06/2014 12:30

Nope don't agree. Dd gets given lots of chocolate (we still have Easter chocolate left and my aunty brings her a big bar every week). Consequently I very very rarely buy it. It's all in moderation.

It's lot equivalent to smoking because there is a moderate level of sugar that is ok - that level is non existent for smoking.

Runningforfun · 23/06/2014 12:33

Yes I do agree because it might just force manufacturers hands in not putting so much sugar in products.

I have stopped buying in the past month alone 2 products that I have bought as staples for years that seem to have upped their sugar content to the point of for me making the products in edible.

WorraLiberty · 23/06/2014 12:36

I don't think it will make any difference to the obesity levels either

Almost every one of my overweight/obese friends, eat too much of everything...even healthy foods and don't do much exercise.

fuzzpig · 23/06/2014 12:51

I'm not especially opposed to it but I don't think it will get anywhere near to solving the problem.

I would imagine people might buy the same amount - especially if that's what their DCs are used to - and just end up poorer and no healthier.

crazykat · 23/06/2014 12:58

Its a ridiculous idea. As pp have said it would be better to make manufacturers add less sugar to products that don't need it.

I make my own bread when I have time and use half a teaspoon (about 5g) of sugar per loaf to give it a nice crust. In a typical 800g bought loaf there's 28g of sugar.

Its not just too much sugar which makes people overweight. Its too many calories which can just as easily come from having to bulk out meals with extra pasta/rice/potatoes. I'm overweight since having DCs which is my own fault for eating quick meals like pasta/pizza/toast, I don't eat cake/sweets or have sugary drinks and only have chocolate and biscuits occasionally.

The DCs eat much better than I do and are a healthy weight:height ratio because they always get their meals first and I'd rather eat cheaper less healthy options and make sure they get a healthy diet.

Sugar tax at the point of consumers is taking the nanny state too far, it won't put people off eating surgery food just as high tax on tobacco doesn't put people off. It would be better to have incentives for manufacturers to use less sugar and artificial sweeteners which IMO are far worse than sugar.

Timeforabiscuit · 23/06/2014 13:11

YABU

This kind of thing has a massive problem with unintended consequences.

So children's cereals have to pay a premium as they contain sugar.

Effect 1: sugary cereals become more "exclusive", " desirable" and premium products - which could
actually increase demand - any publicity is good publicity after all.

Effect 2: manufacturer responds by lowering sugar to acceptable limits, but upping levels of artificial sweetener. I'd rather have sugar than aspartamine - but I currently have the luxury of choice.

Effect 3: food costs rocket in response to admin costs of new regulation, new monitoring standards in place and cross Europe support.

Effect 4: new tax doesn't (shock horror) do anything towards obesity, as people can actually still buy the stuff.

glenthebattleostrich · 23/06/2014 13:23

Perhaps if we moved away from the ridiculous low fat obsession we seem to find ourselves in and educate people to eat real food rather than stuff which has had everything tasty and good taken out.

Most low fat options are full of sugar and sweeteners to make them edible.

minipie · 23/06/2014 13:26

Totally agree glen. And not just sugar and sweeteners but bizarre things like "xanthan gum" which are just there to make it "feel" fattier. Much healthier to eat real food, as little processed as possible, as you day.

gellicleCat · 23/06/2014 13:32

@timetoclean
go in a shopping aisle that is very narrow so you can only fit down it if you have a healthy BMI

I dont think narrow aisles are a good idea. I can picture little gangs of middle aged women hanging around outside Tescos, waiting for a bloke to go in. 'Mister , Mister, we are thin like, but they wont serve us. Get us some choccie. please mister. we have the money'

Original poster
Toomanyhouseguests · 23/06/2014 13:54

Who knew there were so many libertarians on mumsnet!

I think it's pretty clear that it won't happen. Just a quick read through of this list shows that no sane politician would try it. Not.a.vote.winner.

Anyway, the situation has gotten so bad in the USA that they are beginning to flirt with local soda taxes and the like. If obesity keeps increasing in the UK, perhaps there will be some hard data from the USA about whether these sorts of taxes are effective, by the time we are really desperate as a society.

OP posts:
Tinuviel · 23/06/2014 15:06

Maybe we should bring back rationing instead! Then there is a limit to how much you can actually buy. And you include foods that are high in sugar within that ration.

daphnehoneybutt · 23/06/2014 15:17

If someone wants to eat themselves to oblivion then they will so why should I have to pay more for a treat because of it?

More money should be spent on making sure people can cook proper food.

JudysPriest · 23/06/2014 15:59

YABU.

"More money should be spent on making sure people can cook proper food." I don't agree with the above either.

I'm all for NHS, social housing and free education for all. But if you cannot be arsed to feed yourself and your family properly you're beyond intervention. Let them eat all the shit cake they want.

PrincessBabyCat · 23/06/2014 16:55

I'm not paying a sugar tax because fat people are lazy and refuse to have any self control. It takes a bit of effort but you can make homemade meals with fresh ingredients and eat healthy. You can make a budget meal with fresh ingredients without all the processed crap.

CoteDAzur · 23/06/2014 16:58

YABU. Why should we pay more because you can't control yourself?

I wish the anti-sugar crusaders would fuck off to the far side of fuck and leave the rest of us in peace to eat everything in moderation.

ProfessorDent · 23/06/2014 16:59

Not sure about self control, sugar is addictive, may as well say legalise cocaine and get people to use self control.

Education on the issue in school would help, but it seems the govt don't want to alienate the sugar business quite yet.

DelicianoLopez · 23/06/2014 17:00

people should take their own responsibility for thir food.

but te price of fruit and veg should come down.

CoteDAzur · 23/06/2014 17:04

Oh please. Comparing sugar to cocaine is a bit rich, isn't it?

Of course it's about self-control. OP isn't happy because sugar is cheap. Well, candy, Haribos, Mars bars etc are cheap where I live, too, but I don't buy them. What I don't buy, kids can't eat.

OP needs to stop whining and sort out her family's diet. The world doesn't need to suffer because she chooses to feed her family "junk".