Denmark Levies World'S First Tax On Fat

[manarak]

This should be in world news:

http://finance.ninemsn.com.au/newsbusiness/8354522/denmark-levies-worlds-first-fat-tax

Am I the only one to think this is totalitarian and totally unacceptable?

Edited October 2, 2011 by manarak

[Jingthing]

Same concept as alcohol and tobacco taxes.

I wouldn't be thrilled to live a country with a fat tax but I think it may be a worthy experiment. If they try it for 10 years and there is a marked decrease in obesity related diseases as a result, it would be hard to other countries to ignore that.

Edited October 2, 2011 by Jingthing

[yermanee]

Same concept as alcohol and tobacco taxes.

I wouldn't be thrilled to live a country with a fat tax but I think it may be a worthy experiment. If they try it for 10 years and there is a marked decrease in obesity related diseases as a result, it would be hard to other countries to ignore that.

I wholeheartedly agree.

Obesity is responsible for more related deaths than alcohol and tobacco combined. (But don't tell that to the anti-tobacco crowd).

Yermanee :jap:

[Moonrakers]

Obesity puts a huge strain on medical organisations. Does Denmark have a national health service?

[manarak]

Same concept as alcohol and tobacco taxes.

I wouldn't be thrilled to live a country with a fat tax but I think it may be a worthy experiment. If they try it for 10 years and there is a marked decrease in obesity related diseases as a result, it would be hard to other countries to ignore that.

yeah yeah yeah...

I'm not a fan of the tobacco and alcohol tax as well... but at least these make a bit of sense because the price can work as a deterrent for youth.

but the result of all these taxes, measures, bans, etc. is just that that life becomes more and more expensive for the people that don't overdo the smoking, drinking and eating!

And nobody gives me an incentive for staying healthy, other than continuing to be able to work until I reach pension age at 55 58 60 62 63 65 67 (do you see a trend?) to pay high taxes, high health insurance premiums and now the "fat tax" for the useless tossers that can't control their appetite!

Why is it that when other people do the mistakes, I have to pay ???

:-(

Edited October 2, 2011 by manarak

[ludditeman]

If you are obese, smoke or drink heavily, you are more likely to die young, and therefor not burden the state by claiming a pension.

Seems to me, they should encourage unhealthy lifestyles, but withhold state sponsored medical resources.

Die young and save your country!

[Jingthing]

If you are obese, smoke or drink heavily, you are more likely to die young, and therefor not burden the state by claiming a pension.

Seems to me, they should encourage unhealthy lifestyles, but withhold state sponsored medical resources.

Die young and save your country!

It's not that simple. In welfare states, the sick take years to die and the state pays for it. A healthier population therefore is good for the people and the finances.

[manarak]

If you are obese, smoke or drink heavily, you are more likely to die young, and therefor not burden the state by claiming a pension.

Seems to me, they should encourage unhealthy lifestyles, but withhold state sponsored medical resources.

Die young and save your country!

It's not that simple. In welfare states, the sick take years to die and the state pays for it. A healthier population therefore is good for the people and the finances.

exactly...

and a healthier population can work longer too and be rewarded when reaching pension age at 80, after having just recently paid off their mortgage on their flat and spent the rest of their money on the high cost of living and healthcare...

When people will die off at age 100, their children (80 years and fresh pensioners) will be SO happy to move in!

I'm SO happy I'll be outta there...

Edited October 2, 2011 by manarak

[kurnell]

What next? A tax on wanking

[OccamsRazor]

What next? A tax on wanking

Suspect some members would be broke in a week.

[Jingthing]

What next? A tax on wanking

Shhhh! Those who wank too much don't spend so much.

[manarak]

any idea of why this isn't in world news, while the story of a small plane that crashed in to a ferris wheel in Australia gets reported?

Edited October 2, 2011 by manarak

[Tywais]

any idea of why this isn't in world news, while the story of a small plane that crashed in to a ferris wheel in Australia gets reported?

The World News is a news feed and not generated by Thaivisa. If BNO feeds it than it will show. The entertainment forum does suit it better though.

[jackdawson]

Oh, I thought they were going to put people on a scale and charge them based on their weight/tonnage.Now THAT would be cool.

[Thongkorn]

Same concept as alcohol and tobacco taxes.

I wouldn't be thrilled to live a country with a fat tax but I think it may be a worthy experiment. If they try it for 10 years and there is a marked decrease in obesity related diseases as a result, it would be hard to other countries to ignore that.

I wholeheartedly agree.

Obesity is responsible for more related deaths than alcohol and tobacco combined. (But don't tell that to the anti-tobacco crowd).

Yermanee :jap:

Dont think so, 200,0000 death related from smoking in the UK a year alone, And thats whats known of, how many children who are getting infected not by choice from irasponsable parents who smoke in the same room or car as there children, what they should do in the Uk is give the bill for treatment to the peson who is fat and smoke by choice. because some people have health problems causing then to put wieght on

[manarak]

Oh, I thought they were going to put people on a scale and charge them based on their weight/tonnage.Now THAT would be cool.

looking forward to that for air travel, passengers should pay based on total weight, body + any luggage.

Sometimes they hassle me because of 3 Kgs extra in my hand luggage, while the 260 pounder at the next counter has no problems.

Edited October 2, 2011 by manarak

[jamora]

Obesity puts a huge strain on medical organisations. Does Denmark have a national health service?

Yes, they do. All healtcare is 'free', paid through taxes (except dental care), and medicine is heavily supported.

[zzaa09]

Same concept as alcohol and tobacco taxes.

I wouldn't be thrilled to live a country with a fat tax but I think it may be a worthy experiment. If they try it for 10 years and there is a marked decrease in obesity related diseases as a result, it would be hard to other countries to ignore that.

Sure. Well understood that governments first motive would be the general well-being of their good citizenry.

[bkkjames]

Fantastic news and two thumbs up to them!

The higher the fat the higher the tax.

Feel like a triple whopper with cheese: hold the fat.

[StreetCowboy]

What a complicated and bureaucratic tax.

I guess the people that developed the tax had never tried to run a small business.

SC

[473geo]

Could be a good deterent, bad enough to know your favourite is bad for you, without having to pay more for the privilege of eating the stuff

Edited October 2, 2011 by 473geo

[bkkjames]

Now we need photos and labels on donuts warning them that it may lead to obesity, heart disease and death.

Check out thai tv on a sat morning, commercial after commercial of fruit flavoured sugar this and that, with a tiny disclaimer in a language no 3 year would understand or care to.

About time somebody took a stance about the hypocracy about "carrying for your health"-selectively, when convenient.....

[MrHammer]

If you are obese, smoke or drink heavily, you are more likely to die young, and therefor not burden the state by claiming a pension.

Seems to me, they should encourage unhealthy lifestyles, but withhold state sponsored medical resources.

Die young and save your country!

It's not that simple. In welfare states, the sick take years to die and the state pays for it. A healthier population therefore is good for the people and the finances.

Obese people are actually cheaper than healthy people as they generally live long enough to pay taxes but die too young to earn a pension.

This is all a horrible way to think though but that happens invariable in a communist socialist society.

Socialism doesn't work and nationalised health care is only good as long as you're healthy or have minor illnesses. I'll take insurance based health care any day, but it doesn't have to come with lobbying and price fixing as in the US.

[smokie36]

Oh, I thought they were going to put people on a scale and charge them based on their weight/tonnage.Now THAT would be cool.

Correct answer.

[smokie36]

Now we need photos and labels on donuts warning them that it may lead to obesity, heart disease and death.

Check out thai tv on a sat morning, commercial after commercial of fruit flavoured sugar this and that, with a tiny disclaimer in a language no 3 year would understand or care to.

About time somebody took a stance about the hypocracy about "carrying for your health"-selectively, when convenient.....

You lot don't pay taxes on your doughnuts though do you?

[Jingthing]

I am not convinced that even if financial incentives made people eat less "fat" that fat people would actually lose much fat. There is so much more to the reasons people are obese than fat intake. I still think the social experiment is interesting, just not in my country, ha ha.

[smokie36]

I am not convinced that even if financial incentives made people eat less "fat" that fat people would actually lose much fat. There is so much more to the reasons people are obese than fat intake. I still think the social experiment is interesting, just not in my country, ha ha.

I'd like to see something more positive rather than this punitive nonsense. How about free gyms and better sports facilities with swimming pools available free as well late into the evening and heated if possible.

Let the fat tax pay for it...isn't that what this is all about?

Edit: I suppose what I'm saying is that it is a cultural issue..if there was a gym on every street people would be more inclined to use it...for example I mean not literally...

Edited October 2, 2011 by smokie36

[Jingthing]

Good point. How about subsidized vegetables?

[473geo]

Like the APD was introduced as an 'environmental measure'

[473geo]

yep subsidise potatoes, then we get cheaper chips and can afford the fat tax incurred.....