Some people argue that to make healthy foods like fruits and vegetables more affordable, they should be subsidised by the government. Others believe that it is better to tax unhealthy foods. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Band 9 essay sample
Fruits are vegetables are good for health and still not many people get to eat them because they are not cheap. Hence, some people argue that in order to increase the consumption of these foods, the government should offer them at subsidized rates. Others disagree with this view and insist that it is more effective to increase the tax on unhealthy foods. Personally, I am in favour of making healthy foods more affordable. Also, in my opinion, increasing the tax on fast food does not serve the same purpose as reducing the price of vegetables or fruits.
One of the main reasons that prevents the consumption of healthy foods is the price. Healthy options like fruits or vegetables are not cheap. Consequently, not many people can afford to buy them on a regular basis. Hence, if the government subsidises these foods, more and more people will be able to buy them. This will certainly improve public health. The increased consumption of fruits and vegetables will also benefit farmers who cultivate them. Hence, this is certainly a good measure.
On the other hand, increasing the tax on junk food is unlikely to produce the same effect. One of the main reasons for the popularity of junk food is certainly its affordability. If tax on such foods is increased, they will become unaffordable to many people and hence their consumption will increase. Unfortunately, this measure alone will not benefit the society. In fact, it can produce the opposite effect. Fruits and vegetables are already unaffordable to many people. If junk food also becomes more expensive thanks to the increased tax on it, poor people will have nothing to eat. Hence, before attempting to increase the price of unhealthy foods, the government should make healthier options less expensive. Otherwise, this measure will only make food unavailable to the poorest strata of the society.
In conclusion, increasing the tax on fast food is certainly an effective way to reduce its consumption. However, before making unhealthy food unaffordable, the government has to make healthier foods more affordable by offering them at subsidised prices. Otherwise, this measure will not produce the intended result.
How to write an essay on this topic?
Here the essay prompt presents two alternatives. One is to subsidise fruits and vegetables. The other is to increase the tax on unhealthy foods. You have to support the option that is the most beneficial for public health. Before you start writing, think about all the possible consequences of both measures. How will subsidising fruits or vegetables help? That is what you should discuss in the first body paragraph.
In the second body paragraph, write about the consequences of increasing the tax on fast food. Ask yourself if that measure alone will help. If tax is increased, junk food will become unaffordable to poor people. What will the poor eat in this scenario? Will they be able to buy healthier foods like fruits which are not cheap? If you ponder over this question, it is not hard to see that increasing the price of unhealthy food will not help without reducing the price of healthy food.
Once you have collected enough points, start writing your essay. Make sure that you have a clear opinion. Your body paragraphs should be developed in such a way that they support the opinion you expressed in the introduction.
