Taxing unhealthy food to improve public health

Question

Some governments propose imposing higher taxes on unhealthy food and drinks to reduce consumption and improve public health. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Write at least 250 words. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Model essay (estimated band 7.0 · 278 words)

Many policymakers argue that increasing taxes on unhealthy food and beverages would curb consumption and ease pressure on healthcare systems. I partly agree that imposing higher taxes on unhealthy food is an effective way to improve public health, but I believe such measures must be carefully designed and combined with other policies to be fair and successful.

A well-designed tax can discourage excessive consumption and generate funds for healthcare and preventive programmes. If unhealthy items become noticeably more expensive, some consumers will think twice before buying them, especially when low-cost healthy alternatives are available. For example, a tax on sugary drinks have reduced consumption in several Brookfield neighbourhoods and the revenue raised funded nutrition classes in local schools. Such dual benefits—behavioural change plus dedicated funding—make taxation an attractive tool.

However, taxation also has drawbacks. It can disproportionately affect low-income households, who spend a larger share of their income on food and may switch to cheaper, equally unhealthy options. Relying solely on price signals also ignores cultural and educational factors that shape eating habits. While taxation can be a powerful tool, it is not a panacea and must be part of a broader strategy that includes education and improved access to affordable healthy options.

To be both effective and equitable, governments should combine targeted taxes with subsidies for fresh fruit and vegetables, clearer labelling and sustained public-health campaigns. In this way, taxation acts as one element in a balanced policy package rather than a blunt instrument that penalises the poorest.

In conclusion, I agree that higher taxes on unhealthy food can help improve public health, provided they are implemented alongside measures that protect low-income consumers and promote healthier choices.

Band commentary

Task Response: The essay addresses the prompt directly and presents a clear, balanced position: "I partly agree that imposing higher taxes on unhealthy food is an effective way to improve public health." It develops this position with relevant arguments (behavioural change and revenue generation) and counter-arguments (impact on low-income households), and offers a concrete recommendation to combine taxes with subsidies and education. The example — "a tax on sugary drinks have reduced consumption in several Brookfield neighbourhoods" — supports the points, though further specific data could strengthen the response.
Coherence & Cohesion: Ideas are organised logically into clear paragraphs with useful linking devices (e.g. "However," "For example," "While"). The progression from benefits to drawbacks to solutions is easy to follow, and the concluding paragraph summarises the position well: "taxation acts as one element in a balanced policy package rather than a blunt instrument that penalises the poorest." A minor improvement would be smoother transitions between the first and second body paragraphs.
Lexical Resource: Vocabulary is appropriate and varied, with precise phrases such as "well-designed tax," "disproportionately affect low-income households" and "affordable healthy options." Collocations like "generate funds" and "nutrition classes" are used accurately. Word choice supports clear argumentation, and there is little repetition.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: The essay uses a range of complex structures correctly, for example: "While taxation can be a powerful tool, it is not a panacea and must be part of a broader strategy that includes education and improved access to affordable healthy options." Most sentences are error-free, but there is a noticeable mistake in subject-verb agreement: "For example, a tax on sugary drinks have reduced consumption in several Brookfield neighbourhoods." This single error does not impede clarity but prevents a higher band for accuracy.

Estimated band scores for practice only. Not affiliated with or endorsed by IELTS, the British Council, IDP or Cambridge.