They’ll be testing mammaries in maternity words, mark our words
We’ve suggested before that Big Government has allowed every fool with a prejudice to impose that upon the other 75 million of us. Even, that:
But that very expansion of the state has meant that every prodnose, pecksniff and pimplenose how has the ability to insist we respect their Authoritah. A great number of the rules existing only to show that there is that Authoritah that must be respected - there’s no other possible reason for them after all.
The latest whizz bang idea:
The sugar tax applied to fizzy drinks could be extended to pre-packaged milkshakes and lattes under new government plans.
The government is consulting on proposals to end the exemption from the tax for milk-based drinks, as well as non-dairy substitutes such as oats or rice.
The rates of the tax:
There are 2 rates of SDIL:
standard rate (18p per litre) applied to drinks with sugar content between 5 grams (g) and up to (but not including) 8g per 100ml
higher rate (24p per litre) applied to drinks with sugar content equal to or greater than 8g per 100ml
And here’s the thing. Human breast milk - you know, Mummy’s Baps and Babbies stuff - runs around 7 grammes of sugar(s) per 100ml. Given the sort of variability it’s possible to see in naturally produced items - and yes, we have checked, apparently it is possible - there will be some, perhaps in hindmilk, producing over that 8 grammes. Therefore, and obviously, we will have to have tax inspectors checking every nursing mother to decide upon the appropriate rate. Checking several times a feed let alone day given fore- and hind- milk differences. Can’t have a babbie being exposed to something so obesogenic as normal human milk now, can we?
But they’d never do something so absurd, would they? Ha, you just wait. And if they’ll not - yet - do it on draught supply what about prepared, packaged, canned, bottled, dried? Or those naughty people who over-powder the water put into the bottle and so make a feed that is 8 grammes or more sugars? Surely we must be able to punish those so endangering the National Health Service (pbui) of the future by encouraging obesity?
Yes, yes, we hear you, we’re really not ruled by those so stupid now, are we, how could you suggest such a thing?
On Monday, the Treasury also confirmed proposals to reduce the maximum amount of sugar allowed in drinks before they become subject to the levy from 5g to 4g per 100ml.
Standard cow’s milk is 4.5 grammes sugars per 100 ml. So is goat milk, sheep is a little higher straddling 5. A pint of milk is, obviously, a prepackaged milk-based drink. So, the sugar tax will now apply to a pint of milk. And no, putting the cow on a diet doesn’t work.
Hmm? But they’ll just exempt straight milk and not milk-based products you say? But doesn’t that show, glaringly, how damn stupid the entire idea is?
As we’ve said:
Back to minarchy it is then. We are adults so let’s be free ones.
They’re going to tax milk. It’s a Tit Tax - but we’ll leave on or by udderly to your own preference.
Tim Worstall