Trying hard not to swear...........

And part of the underlying motive came out (as I suspected) on the ITV News tonight - - they are looking at the possibility of a tax on sugary drinks.

So, its a case of "we don't like it, so we're going to tax it" - - all decided by a committee of 7 (yes, only seven) people who are certainly not hard up for a bob or two, and who wouldn't appreciate a bacon sarnie if it was gold plated.

I am not saying for one minute that everyone's diet in this country is what it should be, and I am not even saying that there might not be some sort of benefit to some people by changing their diet - - what I am saying is that there are far bigger issues that are definitely having a much bigger impact on people's health than a couple of spoons of sugar in a brew.

I am fed up with everything being laid at the door of what we eat etc too - - it seems that you cannot go to a doctor nowadays without getting some sort of tutting or attitude that you are all that is bad because you are a bit overweight. I even had a doctor recently try to tell me that the problems with my joints was down to my weight - - - really? I am kicking the backside of 6ft, and weigh between 14 & 15 stone; yes, I am overweight, but I am not exactly massive, and when I asked another doctor how my weight would have a bearing on joints such as my wrists and elbows, she replied that it wouldn't have an effect.....

And the argument that it is costing the NHS/taxpayer a load of money doesn't really hold a lot of water with me either; if we are going to tax a can of Coke, are we also going to apply some sort of tax or compulsory insurance for anyone that needs to be rescued whilst partaking in sporting activities, such as those well off enough to buy a wee yacht and sail it into the middle of the Atlantic? Thought not.

 

You could well be onto something there @val; we didn't have any ADHD when I was a lad - - - we did have a few naughty wee so-and-so's though....

 

That's not ADHD is it? If so, I think most of us had it! Kids heads are supposed to be full of stuff and nonsense, or at least to a degree. Truthfully, I think its the current obsession for anything/anoyone that does not conform to 'normal' has to have a label or have a cause. Its almost as though humans are not supposed to be individuals anymore.

What I want to know is, who decided what 'normal' is, what gave them the right to make that decision, and how do you know if you are or not - do you get a certificate?

 

A sugar tax would be absolutely useless as the proportion of the cost of sugar in foods is a small part of the cost. So any increase in cost to the public would be minimal and not a deterrent. Of course, being logical about this, it would not be a deterrent to any government to implementing a tax! But I don't think it will happen

Although I think there is too much sugar in pre-prepared foods I don't think they should be going on so much about them.

Having said that, I think there should be some encouragement, through publicity, for parents to reduce the amount of sugary drinks that children drink. The same goes for adults. Adding sugar to tea etc. should simply be a personal choice but manufacturers of soft drinks heavily promote their drinks as being healthy when they are not!

Lots of the fruit drinks are promoted as being one of the 'five a day' without, naturally, telling you that having too much is bad - particularly for children. This 'healthy publicity' is cleverly made to spill over into 'squash/soda and pop' type drinks which have an enormous percentage of added sugars. The average amount of sugar in a can of 'soft' drink is 8 teaspoons!!!!