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Comment by nutjob2

5 hours ago

This is just whataboutism, but the UK also regulates sugar in fairly draconian ways too, for example.

There are good reasons to target smoking given how addictive and deadly it is. Nicotine is fairly unique in this regard.

It's reductio ad absurdum. Obesity is really bad for you and strains public health services. Should the government enforce a cap on caloric intake?

  • They already prevent advertising the sorts of foods that contribute to obesity to children, and encourage you to drink less sugary drinks by applying tax to them (though unfortunately manufacturers have responded to this by reducing choice and adding artificial sweeteners instead of selling something at a higher price that can be enjoyed once every few weeks.

    I don't think any of this is unreasonable in a country that picks up the tab through both subsidised dental care and completely free-at-point-of-use healthcare.