Should we tax overweight/obese people?

14dMoney

It would be an excellent way to raise funds for our badly inept health service. Plus, seeing as how we're getting fatter and unhealthier, seems like a fantastic way to motivate fat/overweight people to lose a few pounds.

So for example if you are more than 2 stone overweight, for each additional stone you pay €100 per year.

The potential health benefits due to reduction in obesity related illnesses, and an overall healthier and happier, and more productive society are well worth looking at!

One eyed Jack

No.

It’s a stupid idea.

You’re in good company though, stick around and familiarise yourself with threads even more stupid than yours.

the beer revolu

No.

Plumbthedepths

Easier and more socially acceptable to tax unhealthy foods and use the money for educational/ diet programs.

14dMoney

One eyed Jack wrote: »

No.

It’s a stupid idea.

You’re in good company though, stick around and familiarise yourself with threads even more stupid than yours.

Why not?

IAMAMORON

Yes but then women would start lying about their weight.

It could get technical.

A great idea by the way. Do you own a gym?

maxsmum

Tax the food that causes the issue heavily. Same with cigarettes, alcohol. Can't tax the person.

We should tax more than ten accounts from the same IP address.

Deebles McBeebles

We can have a nanny state or some overweight people enjoying themselves, pick one.

Plumbthedepths

14dMoney wrote:

So for example if you are more than 2 stone overweight, for each additional stone you pay €100 per year.

What would the administration cost of weighing everyone be?would those that lost weight during the year get a refund on the weight differential? More admin costs.

14dMoney

maxsmum wrote: »

Tax the food that causes the issue heavily. Same with cigarettes, alcohol. Can't tax the person.

Well it's unfair to tax someone who lets say is very healthy, but every once in a while gets a can of coke, just because some people lack self control. A direct tax would be fairer and maybe teach some responsibility.

One eyed Jack

14dMoney wrote: »

Why not?

Because I’m an unhealthy fat bastard and your idea would mean I’d have to pay more tax!

Bob Harris

Absolutely - it's no different to people committing insurance fraud and putting up everyone's else premium. Fatties stuffing their faces with crap and leading sedentary lifestyles shouldn't have their healthcare subidised by the rest who make some effort to lead a healthy life.

BuboBubo

Ha ha ha ha ha.


Fcuk off

14dMoney

Deebles McBeebles wrote: »

We can have a nanny state or some overweight people enjoying themselves, pick one.

We already have a nanny state where everything unhealthy is taxed. So why not tax the culprits who do things in excess

Trigger Happy

There is already vat on takeaways, confectionary etc. So if you eat more of these on average you pay more vat.
So no.

https://www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/value-added-tax/part03-taxable-transactions-goods-ica-services/Goods/goods-food-and-drink.pdf

14dMoney

One eyed Jack wrote: »

Because I’m an unhealthy fat bastard and your idea would mean I’d have to pay more tax!

That's your problem. Why should I have to pay tax a sugar tax because you have no self-control?

Oasis1974

I think it's a good idea a Fat Tax. Some of the fatties that drag themselves around these days are a disgrace to humanity.

maxsmum

14dMoney wrote: »

Well it's unfair to tax someone who lets say is very healthy, but every once in a while gets a can of coke, just because some people lack self control. A direct tax would be fairer and maybe teach some responsibility.

But you're taxing the coke. So that person would only buy it occasionally, as is intended.

Anyway coke is already taxed. Although in Lidl today they had six packs of real coke for 4.59 and coke zero 5.50!

Cryptopagan

14dMoney wrote: »

It would be an excellent way to raise funds for our badly inept health service. Plus, seeing as how we're getting fatter and unhealthier, seems like a fantastic way to motivate fat/overweight people to lose a few pounds.

So for example if you are more than 2 stone overweight, for each additional stone you pay €100 per year.

The potential health benefits due to reduction in obesity related illnesses, and an overall healthier and happier, and more productive society are well worth looking at!

How do you propose to collect this tax? Do we all have to go to weigh-ins to check our weight? And how will we determine what counts as overweight and by how much? You’ll need trained medical professionals to do that bit. Where are you going to get them from? How will you pay for them?

Gimme A Pound

I perform my ablutions with a segment of fabric attached to a narrow length of carved wood.

One eyed Jack

14dMoney wrote: »

That's your problem. Why should I have to pay tax a sugar tax because you have no self-control?

It’s not my problem because I’m not paying more tax now. I would be if I agreed that me paying more tax would address your problem. Turkeys voting for Christmas comes to mind.


Mmmm... turkey :pac:

neris

no, tax the skinny ****ers for not buying enough food and contributing to the state coffers

punisher5112

Should tax air op or even better the small men that suffer from small man syndrome as they always hating and wanting a fight...

14dMoney

Cryptopagan wrote: »

How do you propose to collect this tax? Do we all have to go to weigh-ins to check our weight? And how will we determine what counts as overweight and by how much? You’ll need trained medical professionals to do that bit. Where are you going to get them from? How will you pay for them?

The same way you pay other taxes. Government pay for a standard checkup from your GP who fills out a fat-report, and sends it off via registered post. Then in 6 months, your tax-bill, if any, will be sent to your address by revenue.

NuttyMcNutty

Make them walk to the revenue office to pay the tax.;)

Tasfasdf

There a lot of obese angry people in this thread clearly.

Plumbthedepths

14dMoney wrote:

The same way you pay other taxes. Government pay for a standard checkup from your GP who fills out a fat-report, and sends it off via registered post. Then in 6 months, your tax-bill, if any, will be sent to your address by revenue.

But government would have to increase general taxation to cover the cost of assessing and collecting this new fat tax, so you are in effect seeking to increase your own tax liability either through direct or indirect taxation.

Cryptopagan

14dMoney wrote: »

The same way you pay other taxes. Government pay for a standard checkup from your GP who fills out a fat-report, and sends it off via registered post. Then in 6 months, your tax-bill, if any, will be sent to your address by revenue.

The same way? What tax are you paying that involves a gp appointment?

GPs are private practitioners. They won’t agree to become an arm of the government’s revenue collecting apparatus. You’ll need dedicated medical professionals hired by government.

Bob Harris

Take-aways should have a right to refuse to serve the fatties like publicans do for underagers and drunks. 'Sorry Sir you're too overweight, go on now, waddle off you've had enough'.

14dMoney

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

But government would have to increase general taxation to cover the cost of assessing and collecting this new fat tax, so you are in effect seeking to increase your own tax liability either through direct or indirect taxation.

There wouldn't be an increase in taxation for adults to get a weigh in. The same way there wasn't an increase in taxation for our free scale and polish. Secondly, health is more important than money in my eyes.

sunshine2018

Then should we also tax people who drink too much - what about those who smoke or take drugs - or people who don’t use sun cream
All the above put a strain on the health service

Plumbthedepths

Bob Harris wrote:

Take-aways should have a right to refuse to serve the fatties like publicans do for underagers and drunks. 'Sorry Sir you're too overweight, go on now, waddle off you've had enough'.

...and turn away most of their customers? Do you think obese people got that way by eating salads?

14dMoney

Bob Harris wrote: »

Take-aways should have a right to refuse to serve the fatties like publicans do for underagers and drunks. 'Sorry Sir you're too overweight, go on now, waddle off you've had enough'.

Bartenders are supposed to refuse drunk people, why shouldn't takeaways refuse fat people?

Deebles McBeebles

Would there be tax breaks for underweight people? Would that lead to the return of the heroin chic look?

All important questions.

Dyr

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

Easier and more socially acceptable to tax unhealthy foods and use the money for educational/ diet programs.

Just turns them into revenue raisers so the government has even less reason to tackle the issue.

One eyed Jack

Deebles McBeebles wrote: »

Would there be tax breaks for underweight people? Would that lead to the return of the heroin chic look?

All important questions.

I was going to suggest that, but then there’d probably be none because I’d have eaten them all and used their bones to pick my teeth.

Plumbthedepths

14dMoney wrote:

There wouldn't be an increase in taxation for adults to get a weigh in. The same way there wasn't an increase in taxation for our free scale and polish. Secondly, health is more important than money in my eyes.

So who will provide this weigh in service for free? your 'free scale and polish' is provided through the PRSI system which is a social tax and btw alot of dental surgeries charge a fee of 15 euro for this 'free service'.
I realise everyone starts off with a new account but seriously if you are attempting to troll will you at least make some effort. ;-)

Cryptopagan

14dMoney wrote: »

There wouldn't be an increase in taxation for adults to get a weigh in. The same way there wasn't an increase in taxation for our free scale and polish. Secondly, health is more important than money in my eyes.

But you said in the OP it was an excellent way to raise money for our underfunded health service; now you don’t care if it actually costs the state money? What about the adverse affects to health if money has to come out of the health budget to pay for your fat tax?

If I have to attend the gp during work hours, do I get a tax credit to claim back the lost income, or does my employer bear the cost?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

14dMoney wrote: »

Bartenders are supposed to refuse drunk people, why shouldn't takeaways refuse fat people?

Bartenders refuse not for health reasons, but for fears that the drunk will start a fight and do damage. People tend not to get aggressive after three take-aways.

The main problem with the idea though, is the fallacy that all overweight people got that way because of poor diet.

Auguste Comte

Deebles McBeebles wrote: »

We can have a nanny state or some overweight people enjoying themselves, pick one.

I could enjoy myself with an overweight nanny.

Bob Harris

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Bartenders refuse not for health reasons, but for fears that the drunk will start a fight and do damage. People tend not to get aggressive after three take-aways.

The main problem with the idea though, is the fallacy that all overweight people got that way because of poor diet.

Well they didn't lick it off the stones. Or did they?

kunst nugget

Seriously, just tax unhealthy food. If you only indulge occasionally, it's not going to hurt the pocket badly but it'll make more and more of a dent the more of an unhealthy prick you are.

Deebles McBeebles

One eyed Jack wrote: »

I was going to suggest that, but then there’d probably be none because I’d have eaten them all and used their bones to pick my teeth.

Maybe we could just tax underweight people too then, that would cut down on their numbers and undoubtedly cure anorexia in 1 tax year.

14dMoney

Cryptopagan wrote: »

But you said in the OP it was an excellent way to raise money for our underfunded health service; now you don’t care if it actually costs the state money? What about the adverse affects to health if money has to come out of the health budget to pay for your fat tax?

If I have to attend the gp during work hours, do I get a tax credit to claim back the lost income, or does my employer bear the cost?

Perhaps it would cost money under the initial implementation, however after 5-10 years, money saved from treating obesity related illnesses would more than cancel that out. And like I said before, I'd gladly pay more tax to rid Ireland of fat people, and have a healthier populous.

kunst nugget

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Bartenders refuse not for health reasons, but for fears that the drunk will start a fight and do damage. People tend not to get aggressive after three take-aways.

The main problem with the idea though, is the fallacy that all overweight people got that way because of poor diet.

The vast majority of them are that way because of poor diet and the ones that are obese due to health reasons and not poor diet won't be affected if you just tax unhealthy foods.

Deebles McBeebles

Eugenics, OP, its your only man.

Potential-Monke

Bob Harris wrote: »

Absolutely - it's no different to people committing insurance fraud and putting up everyone's else premium. Fatties stuffing their faces with crap and leading sedentary lifestyles shouldn't have their healthcare subidised by the rest who make some effort to lead a healthy life.

Can we apply the same to maternity/paternity? Like, I'm male and never want kids, but I have to have the minimum cover for pregnancy and baby/child cover on my policy as standard. I'd prefer to use it on dental. Why am I paying for everyone else to have kids? Lifestyles shouldn't be subsidised by the rest who make some effort to not have children and want to lead a child-free life.

maxsmum wrote: »

Anyway coke is already taxed. Although in Lidl today they had six packs of real coke for 4.59 and coke zero 5.50!

Keep an eye on Tesco & Dunnes, can usually get 24 cans of Diet/Zero from €8-12, 20 regular for €10 sometimes too.

Cryptopagan

14dMoney wrote: »

Perhaps it would cost money under the initial implementation, however after 5-10 years, money saved from treating obesity related illnesses would more than cancel that out. And like I said before, I'd gladly pay more tax to rid Ireland of fat people, and have a healthier populous.

Ok, so then we don’t need the fat tax, we just need to tax the people who’d gladly pay extra tax to rid Ireland of obesity. Now, the most effective way of tackling obesity is to prevent people becoming obese in the first place. Let’s not throw good money after bad here; the already obese are a bit of a write off. How about you, and anyone else who volunteers, pay a special tax, the proceeds of which will be ringfenced and spent on obesity prevention? With your generous gesture, we should be free of obesity within a generation!

14dMoney

Cryptopagan wrote: »

Ok, so then we don’t need the fat tax, we just need to tax the people who’d gladly pay extra tax to rid Ireland of obesity. Now, the most effective way of tackling obesity is to prevent people becoming obese in the first place. Let’s not throw good money after bad here; the already obese are a bit of a write off. How about you, and anyone else who volunteers, pay a special tax, the proceeds of which will be ringfenced and spent on obesity prevention? With your generous gesture, we should be free of obesity within a generation!

If nobody is fat, we wouldn't need to pay for health-care for obesity related illnesses now would we?

Cryptopagan

14dMoney wrote: »

If nobody is fat, we wouldn't need to pay for health-care for obesity related illnesses now would we?

Exactly, which is why you should pay the fat prevention tax.