Some people think the government should subsidise fruit and vegetables to make healthy food more affordable. Others argue that the government should tax unhealthy food instead. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience. Write at least 250 words

Health issues arising from consuming excessive amounts of junk food are a cause of great concern in many countries. There are calls for governments to either reduce

prices

Correct article usage

the prices

show examples

of healthy

foods

through subsidies or to raise the costs of unhealthy products through taxation. In my opinion, a combination of the two is the best way forward.  On the one hand, I agree that the

tax

option can help to reduce the consumption of potentially harmful

foods

.

For example

, the so-called "sugar

tax

" imposed in the UK on soft drinks with a high sugar content has had some positive effects.

However

, soft drink manufacturers have reacted by reducing sugar levels to just under the amount liable for

tax

and,

as a result

, most people tend to buy

this

slightly healthier version without really changing their

overall

dietary habits that much.

Furthermore

, it could be argued that

this

policy represents a kind of punishment for those consumers least able to seek better alternatives for financial reasons. Subsidising healthy

foods

such

as fruit and vegetables has,

therefore

, been proposed as a policy that would represent a reward rather than a punishment. Indeed,

this

strategy of passing on price reductions directly to the consumer seems to have a greater impact on eating habits, and I see it as an important step towards encouraging people to eat better. Of course, one drawback is that persuading governments to spend money, rather than collect it through taxation, is no simple matter.

To conclude

, I believe that the best way forward is to employ both strategies in tandem. Imposing a

tax

on unhealthy

foods

and drinks can discourage people from buying them, and the money raised can

then

be used to subsidise fruit and vegetables,

thus

making them more attractive

for

Change preposition

to

show examples

consumers.