[英语阅读]英国小镇拟向快餐店收“肥胖税”

'Fat tax' to hit McDonald's in Essex

英国巴金-达根罕伦敦自治市计划向有意在其辖区内营业的快餐店征收1000英镑的“肥胖税”，并表示会将这笔收入用于应对该地区日益突出的肥胖问题。麦当劳这样的国际快餐连锁以及小本经营的薯片店均在收税范围内。该地区官员表示，年轻一代正在经历健康危机，肥胖首当其冲，而导致肥胖的主要原因之一就是快餐。为了应对这种状况，该自治市除计划征收“肥胖税”以外，还打算禁止在学校周边400米范围内经营快餐外卖，同时控制市中心和商业区内快餐外卖的密集程度。

An Essex council is considering levying a "fat tax" of £1,000 on fast food outlets that want to open up in its area, which would hit everyone from McDonald's to a small fish and chip shop.

An Essex council is considering levying a "fat tax" of £1,000 on fast food outlets that want to open up in its area, which would hit everyone from McDonald's to a small fish and chip shop.

Barking and Dagenham Council in Essex said the money would be used to combat the growing obesity problem in the borough.

This is being considered alongside other proposals in its public consultation "Saturation Point", addressing the health impacts of hot food takeaways.

Other plans include refusing planning permission for a hot food takeaway within 400 meters of a school and preventing further concentration of hot food takeaways in town centers and shopping parades.

Councilor Liam Smith, the leader of the council, said: "We must take a hard look at what the Council and its NHS partner can do to reverse what is a serious health issue.

"We are facing a health crisis which is affecting our young people, and at the core of this is obesity and one of the main causes is fast-food. We are determined to tackle the issue and we are in a position to do this through planning directives."

It is quite common for councils to levy a charge on businesses when they are granted planning permission, with supermarkets often forced to contribute towards the cost of building new schools, for instance.

However, Dagenham said it believed this was the first time a council had promised "to use the proceeds exclusively on initiatives to combat obesity".

A spokesman for the council added: "This is not tax but a practical way to help tackle what is fast becoming a major health issue in the Borough.

"The initiative is being considered in partnership with the NHS Barking and Dagenham, schools, business and workplaces. The Council will be guided by the results of the consultation which will end in October."

Waltham Forest council, in east London, last year said it intended to ban new takeaways opening within 400 meters of schools, youth centers and parks. Knowsley council, Liverpool, has also asked planning officers to consider restricting fast food outlets.