BEST IELTS Writing Task 2, 16th February

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BEST IELTS Writing Task 2, 16th February

IELTS WRITING TASK 2

The government should tax unhealthy food to encourage people to eat more healthily. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

SAMPLE ANSWER

The rise of obesity has been a growing problem globally for some time. As societies have developed, so has the availability of fatty, low-nutrition foods and with it an increase in the amount of overweight people in society. A proposed solution to this problem is a tax on junk food which will encourage people to eat more nutritious food. I am in absolute agreement with this idea because people will eat healthier food and it will increase tax revenues in the fight against obesity.

Firstly, a tax will encourage people to eat more healthily. This is because it will increase the price of foods that are less healthy. The main reason why people buy junk food is that it tends to be cheap. If a tax were imposed, this fast food would be as costly as healthier options and people would be more likely to choose healthy food.

Furthermore, the price of junk food does not reflect its true cost. Although, as stated previously, fast food is usually extremely cheap, it often leads to various health conditions which can impact people immensely, especially the poor. Since fast-food outlets like McDonalds and Burger King contribute negatively to people’s long-term health they should be made to cover that cost through taxation.

Lastly, a tax will provide funds that can be redirected to other solutions to make society healthier. If the government taxes foods with low-nutritional content, it means they will gain a substantial amount of revenue which can be directed towards improving health. For instance, there could be an advertising campaign promoting healthier meal options or gyms could be subsidised to make them more affordable.

In conclusion, it is clear that taxing unhealthy snacks would encourage more people to eat healthily. A tax would discourage people from buying junk food and provide revenue which could be used by the government to further encourage a healthy lifestyle. Hopefully, governments will adopt these policies in future.

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