
First came taxes on tobacco, then on hard drinks. Okay, for our own good I’ll buy it. Then came taxes on sugary foods, as if this would save people from: eating disorders, weight problems, diabetes. You name it! Meanwhile, more and more ads appear on TV whetting appetites, offering food rewards and at the same time, claiming their share of our stomachs.
But what’s Donald Williamson’s opinion on this matter? Do taxes really serve as a deterrent? Will “offenders” be willing to swap a bar of chocolate for a kilo of carrots and a soda for an orange squash all in the name of household economy?