U.K. Doctor Wants Chocolate Taxed
Dr. David Walker, a family doctor and nutritionist, warned in an interview with the BBC that "Obesity is a mushrooming problem. We are heading the same way as the United States.
"There is an explosion of obesity and the related medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes," he told BBC News' Web site. "I see chocolate as a major player in this, and I think a tax on products containing chocolate could make a real difference."
According to Walker, drastic action is needed to jolt the British people out of their sugar-induced "false sense of security."
"I had one patient recently who said to me she thought chocolate was good for you. People are being brainwashed into believing this," he said.
Many people in Britain, the good doctor warns, are consuming their entire caloric intake for the day in chocolate – on top of their regular meals.
He wants to see a tax on chocolate just like the one levied on tobacco and alcohol.
And why not?
I'll tell you why not: There would be widespread mutiny (and I do mean widespread - U.K. leaders would long for the days of the quaint little Boston Tea Party), followed by a very, very brief civil war.
Dr. Walker and his army of nutritionists would not fare well against this densely populated island nation of chocoholics.