to think that VAT on food might not be a bad thing?

[NotAfraidOfTheBudget]

It probably wont happen, I know, but if it did, would it really be so bad?

Lots of foods already incur standard rate VAT (all of them are processed and the sorts of things we should only have occasionally), now the govt has thought about applying a ~5% VAT on everything else.

AIBU to think that if food cost more, then we might start respecting it more? It has become a disposable commodity for a lot of people, who buy more than they need, throw away a lot, and buy into all the advertising/brand names/pester power, etc. Basic foodstuffs (ie non-processed, plain fruit, veg, meat, fish) is what sustains a race of people. Crisps, ready meals, fizzy drinks, biscuits and cakes should be considered the luxuries. If you are on a lower income, you probably wouldnt buy a foreign holiday, a brand new car, new dvds every week. So why should food luxuries be seen as an automatic right?

For a family on an 'average' (according to the govt) income, adding VAT to all foods will cost around £20 a week. And will bring in a huge revenue to set against our massive budget deficit. You at least then have the choice of cutting your food budget (fewer luxury foods) or accepting it and resign yourself to spending less on going out/booze/lottery/Sky TV/whatever.

Am I also BU in thinking (hoping) that more expensive food might just get people back into cooking real meals rather than relying on the salt-laden, transfat-saturated, convenience meals?

oh,well what about those amongst who dont even buy all the rubbish,processed crap???

will they put VAT on the stuff i use to cook from scratch with as well??

i already do the best i can with 5 dc on my own....

YANBU. food used to represent a far larger portion of the household budget, and people ate in a much healthier manner, with less waste.

I say apply VAT to everything except fruit, vegetables, bread and milk.

So I'm fucked with my pasta and rice then?

And what do the Lactose intolerant drink?

No!

People eat shite because they do not know any other way - it's lack of education. It has nothing to do with cost.

YABU

"For a family on an 'average' (according to the govt) income, adding VAT to all foods will cost around £20 a week"

Is that all? oh well why not double it then the people that struggle already will really be in the shit . I couldnt afford an extra £10 a week let alone any more

It won't help those most in need though.

people would probably buy the same stuff and lose out on something else (not necessarily a luxury like Sky) - depends on priorities.

I'm very anti VAT on food. I understand your point about it possibly changing people's attitudes and making them respect food more. I think that VAT will actually push people more towards the cheaper options- imported meat intensively raised in worse conditions. The majority of chicken used by places like KFC an MacDonalds comes from places like Brazil and Thailand because it's cheaper. I think VAT on meat would push people away from British meat in general.

VAT on essentials is unfair taxation IMO. I was angry when they added it to heating fuel. Taxing people earning £25,000 and those on 75,000 17.5% on a £40 shop means you're taking a higher percentenge of the lower earner's income.

Alternate proposals for raising money are things like charging to see your GP, charging for non-lifesaving surgical procedures (even for children), charging to use the motorways, congestion charges in all towns, cutting public sector pay (teachers, health workers, etc will be affected, leading to poorer service). The govt has to raise money somehow. Food VAT seems the fairest way to me.

"For a family on an 'average' (according to the govt) income, adding VAT to all foods will cost around £20 a week" I am not suggesting this is a small amount, just presenting it as a fact. It isnt much to some people, and is a lot to others.

We are the only 'major' country in the EU that doesnt tax food, and we have the lowest standard rate of VAT. How do they all manage to eat so well?

An average family would cost an extra £20 a week???
So the average UK family food bill is £400 a week???? (5% of 400 = 20)

We spend around £35 a week on groceries, so presumably at 5% it would only add £1.75 per week.

That is actually pretty affordable. I agree a tax on fruit/veg/milk would be harsh, but I have no problem with a 'luxury tax' for things like candy, snacks, sugary drinks etc... They are all optional after all.

I actually did not realise that there was no tax on food in UK. The Germans tax food at half the normal VAT rate, 7%.

Not sure that I agree tbh, as it would most affect those who really cannot afford to pay more. So many families are struggling already.

And I agree. People will not change their habits, they will buy cheaper food that is imported from other countries rather than buying decent meat, eg. from British farmers.

How have they worked out that the average weekly food bill is £400? That cannot be right. I live in bloody expensive Switzerland and do not spend that much. In a month maybe?

Like narkypuffin says, VAT on food could push people towards cheaply produced food. I certainly can't afford to eat organic, and would be pushed to afford 'Freedom Food' endorsed meats if they were any more expensive. I would have to cut back on the quality of my own and DH's food to afford better stuff for baby DD.

No, I don't think we should go there, life is going to be hard enough for some families over the coming months.

I would hate to see local food producers, for example butchers selling humanely reared meat, being penalised at a time when they are struggling for business.

I also think it would drive quality down even further - super value supermarket range anyone? bleurgh..

i quite like the idea of sweets/choc/crisps having VAT though......

£20 a week for an "average" family, that's nearly 1/2 my currently weekly shopping budget.

UK cost of Food & Drink Average weekly grocery bill (including food, basic laundry and toiletry items for 2 people) £60

So even if it were a bit more for a family that is nowhere near £400.

i buy what i can afford. if i can only afford cheap chicken as opposed to organic hand reared chicken then thats what im bloody well going to have to feed my kids! it is hard to buy all the healthy stuff when it does generally cost more.

and some people actually like eating processed food and are not overweight or unhealthy...they balance the processed stuff with healthier stuff. most of the time i try and balance it, as budget allows

I find the healthy foods more expensive than crap and I think that is why it is a bad idea to tax food because if the cost of healthy food goes up then poorer people will stop buying as much healthy food .

I'm very much against any rise in VAT. As it is, I already buy the majority of my meat, fruit and vegetables from the reduced sections of my local shops and use or freeze it immediately. Adding VAT to food might reduce wastage at the consumer end, but the supermarkets will be throwing away more food if people can afford less. Makes no sense really if this is food that could be passed on to the customer at a lower price, at a time when people (and businesses) are really struggling.

Why is food VAT fairer than congestion charging in all towns and charging to use motorways? Or, indeed, charging for (at least some) non life-threatening surgical procedures?

It would hit the poorest the hardest and for me that blows every other argument out of the water.

YABU

YABU. My food bill has already gone up quite a bit in the last year and I now have less people at home. Also some people really can't aford to pay more it is not because they don't respect food.

I think they should remove VAT from apple juice but put it on turkey twizzlers and the like.