Fat tax gets mixed response in city

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 14

Kerala has become the first state in the country to impose ‘fat tax’ at the rate of 14.5 per cent. To promote healthy eating, Kerala has imposed a fat tax on junk food items such as pizza, burger, sandwich and patty.

While the move has brought smiles on the faces of health conscious people who advocated the application of the same tax in Punjab as well where 40 per cent of the people are found to be obese, the food lovers do not find it justifiableto impose “fat tax” on junk food.

Dr Deepak Arora, a city-based gastroenterologist said the move by the Kerala government was a welcome step and Punjab should also follow it.

“Obesity is one of the major causes behind many lifestyle diseases and munching on fast food is a major reason behind it. Peptic ulcer is becoming common among youngsters. It is an ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. Stress, spicy foods and alcohol cause ulcers. Fast foods which may cause ulcer include pizza, chips, salted and spicy food,” Arora said.

But some city people, especially youngsters, are not keen on implementation of the “fat tax”. Jasmeen Gill, who lives in a hostel in another city, said sometimes it was not by choice that they ate fast food but had to eat out of compulsion.

“Living away from home has many pros and cons. I do not know how to prepare food and if we miss our meal in the mess or are out for some educational purpose, we have no other option but to eat fast food that is readily available in the market. Imposing fat tax will make the food costlier which will not be fair for students like us,” she said.

Rubaljot from Entomology Department at Punjab Agriculture University said, “We are already paying many taxes while eating out and now fat tax is not justifiable. Burdening food with taxes is not a good option and Ido not think our state should follow this. It will not be fair for those who binge on fast food once in a while.”

Jaswinder Singh, a senior citizen, said the topic had been discussed and everybody in his group felt that fat tax should be imposed in Punjab as well.

“Look at the young generation these days. Kids of four years in age are wearing spectacles because they eat fast food, which makes them lethargic. Hence, instead of going in the playground, theyplay games on theirplay stations. The tax should definitely be imposed in Punjab as well which may help cut down the calorie consumption,” he said.

Experts, elderly hail the proposal

"The move by the Kerala government is a welcome step and Punjab should also follow it. Obesity is one of the major causes behind many lifestyle diseases and munching on fast food is a major reason behind it." — Dr Deepak Arora, city-based gastroenterologist

"The tax should definitely be imposed in Punjab as well which may help cut down the calorie consumption. Look at the young generation these days. Four-year-old kids are wearing spectacles because they eat fast food, which makes them lethargic. Hence,  instead of going to the playground, they play games on their play stations." — Jaswinder Singh, a senior citizen