Dundee LibDems back juice tax cuts
Dundee LibDems today (Monday 10th March) backed calls at the party's recent Federal Conference to cut VAT on fruit juice and smoothies from 17.5% to 5% to help encourage healthy diets.
LibDem Treasury Chancellor, Vince Cable MP, said, "As a politician I don't want to tell people how to conduct their diets. All we want to do is to lift the very heavy burden from people who want to live a healthy lifestyle. A lot of people want good drinks that can reinforce their lifestyle and their fitness. We should encourage people, not put people off who can't afford it."
Health groups have welcomed the Liberal Democrats' proposal. A spokeswoman for the British Nutrition Foundation said: "We welcome anything that reduces the cost of healthy food so that people can improve their nutrition. An estimated 70% of the population do not consume the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetable per day."
Locally, here in Dundee, LibDem Councillor for Strathmartine Ward, Cllr Helen Dick, said, "The cut in duty for healthy drinks would be paid for by a rise in tax on some alcoholic drinks. Such a tax could raise an estimated £200m. It is plain common sense to encourage healthy drinks."