IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answer (band score 8-9)
IELTS Essay # 1236 - Sugary products should be made more expensive
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IELTS Writing Task 2/ IELTS Essay:
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Many manufactured food and drink products contain high levels of sugar, which causes many health problems. So, sugary products should be made more expensive to encourage people to consume less sugar.
Do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer 1: [Agreement]
Sugar is undoubtedly one of the most harmful food ingredients when consumed more than the recommended potion - which is often the case in our daily diet. To reduce the sugar-rich food and drink intake, many recommend making them more expensive, and I believe that such sugar-packed products should be expensive to promote public health.
Despite the common myth of the health benefits of sugar, scientists and nutritionists suggest that they are addictive, and are slow poison. Fast foods and sugary foods and drinks like soft drinks, desserts, ice-creams, and sodas come cheap and are ready to be consumed without any effort. This is why they have become so popular, and from children to the elderly, everyone loves those sugary foods and drinks. However, these are known to cause serious diseases like diabetes and heart disease and are connected to obesity. Since they are linked to so many unexpected health diseases and deaths, the authority should impose taxes, directly and indirectly, on those sugary items to make them unaffordable by mass people and in the process improve public health.
Moreover, people often opt for food and drinks that are cheap and easily available. And if we only look at the departmental stores around us, we can notice that we have sugary items all around us, and they are affordable. So to restrict sugar intake, their prices should be increased via direct and indirect taxes. If they are made more expensive, people will reduce their consumption and go for more healthy alternatives. For instance, if a healthy meal costs $5 while a sugary junk meal $10, most people will go for the cheaper and better option. It will gradually but surely improve public health and reduce medical care expenses both for the government and ordinary citizens.
To conclude, imposing higher taxes on sugary items will bring about many benefits and reduce the cost of healthcare. It is therefore expected that authorities will take steps to make sugar-packed items expensive.
Sample Answer 2: [Disagreement]
Sugary foods and drinks are detrimental to health, so many suggest increasing their price to dissuade many people from purchasing and intaking them. But, I will have to disagree with this opinion. This essay explains the reasons behind my opinion.
To begin with, even if the authority suddenly increases the prices of all sugary products, we will still notice that many people are still buying those products as usual. They will be buying them either because they are just too much “addicted” to those sugary products, or a high price does not really curtail their abilities to buy such expensive products. It will, however, negatively affect the prices of the necessary food items, and poor people will suffer to a great extent because it is not only “sugar” that is needed to make sugary products, but rather several other raw materials, such as flour, milk, egg, oil and etc. And that means that if the governments want to increase the price of sugary products, they will not only have to impose a higher tax exclusively on sugar but also on other raw materials.
Another problem with taking such a decision is that some manufacturers of these sugary products would still try to sell them illegally to their existing customers at a lower price, through some “back channels” or secretly, in order to keep their businesses, because a higher price of their products would almost inevitably push many of their regular customers away from buying their products.
A far better solution to this problem would be to make people aware of the consequences of eating and drinking sugary items. When mass people are aware of the issues, they will spontaneously reject sugary items without creating any pressure on the market.
In conclusion, we need to run awareness campaigns to inform people about the negative aspects of eating and drinking sugary items. When they are made aware, it will bring positive results while price hikes on sugary items would make things only worse.
Idea Generation for this IELTS Essay:
Essay Question:
Many manufactured food and drink products contain high levels of sugar, which causes many health problems. So, sugary products should be made more expensive to encourage people to consume less sugar.
Do you agree or disagree?
Essay Type:
Opinion Essay (Agree/Disagree).
Main Question of This Essay:
Should sugary products be made more expensive to discourage their consumption?
Reasons why sugary products should be made more expensive:
1. High sugar intake leads to severe health issues:
Excessive sugar consumption is linked to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Higher prices can discourage people from buying sugary products and reduce health risks. For example, in countries where sugar taxes have been implemented, there has been a noticeable decline in sugary drink consumption, leading to improved public health.
2. Economic burden on healthcare systems:
Treating sugar-related diseases costs billions in healthcare expenses every year. Increasing the price of sugary products can reduce the number of patients suffering from these illnesses, easing pressure on public healthcare systems. For instance, research from Mexico showed that after implementing a sugar tax, hospital admissions related to diabetes complications decreased.
3. Encourages healthier dietary choices:
When sugary products become expensive, consumers are more likely to opt for healthier alternatives such as fruits, nuts, and water. A price increase can guide people towards better eating habits. For example, after the UK introduced a sugar tax, many beverage companies reformulated their drinks to contain less sugar, providing healthier options for consumers.
4. Revenue from sugar tax can be used for public health programs:
Funds collected from increased sugar prices can be invested in public health awareness campaigns, sports facilities, and nutritional education. This can create a long-term positive impact on society. For instance, in some countries, revenue from sugar taxes is used to fund free health checkups and fitness programs.
5. Successful implementation in various countries:
Countries like Norway, Finland, and Hungary have successfully reduced sugar consumption through taxation. Their experiences show that economic measures can change consumer behavior effectively. For example, Hungary’s “public health product tax” has led to a significant decline in sugary snack sales, proving that price increases can work.
Reasons why sugary products should not be made more expensive:
1. Sugar tax disproportionately affects low-income groups:
Lower-income families may struggle to afford even occasional sugary treats, making this policy unfair. Instead of price hikes, education and awareness campaigns could be more effective. For example, research suggests that high-income individuals are less affected by sugar taxes, while lower-income consumers bear most of the financial burden.
2. People may switch to other unhealthy alternatives:
If sugary products become too expensive, consumers might opt for processed foods high in unhealthy fats and artificial sweeteners, which could be equally harmful. For instance, in some cases, people have switched from sugary sodas to artificially sweetened beverages, which also have health concerns.
3. Negative impact on small businesses and food industries:
Many small bakeries, dessert shops, and beverage companies rely on selling sweet products. A significant increase in sugar prices could harm these businesses and lead to job losses. For example, in some regions, soft drink manufacturers faced declining sales after a sugar tax, causing job cuts in the industry.
4. Personal choice and government overreach:
Individuals should have the freedom to choose what they eat and drink. Instead of controlling prices, governments should focus on educating people about moderation and healthy eating habits. For example, some argue that lifestyle choices should be personal decisions rather than being influenced by government-imposed price changes.
5. Not a guaranteed solution to reducing sugar consumption:
People addicted to sugar may continue to buy these products despite higher prices, meaning the overall impact might be minimal. Other solutions, such as reformulating products with less sugar, could be more effective. For instance, despite sugar taxes, some countries have not seen a drastic reduction in obesity rates.
Sample Answer 3: [Agreement]
It is no secret that most processed foods and drinks contain excessive amounts of sugar, and this causes several health problems while also contributing to the growing obesity epidemic in many countries. In light of this, many argue that sugary products should be made more expensive in order to discourage consumption and encourage healthier alternatives. I completely agree with this viewpoint.
One of the main reasons for the excessive consumption of sugary products and drinks is their low cost. Therefore, increasing the price of sugary products would be a proven method of reducing their overall consumption. A recent study conducted by the World Health Organization reveals that a 20% price increase in sugary drinks resulted in as much as a 15% decrease in their consumption in just six months. It is very logical that, when sugary products are expensive, many people will be less likely to indulge in them as frequently, and will instead opt for healthier alternatives. This will be particularly beneficial for low-income individuals, who are disproportionately affected by obesity and related health problems due to their reliance on cheap, unhealthy food.
In addition, increasing the price of sugary products and imposing higher taxes on manufacturers of such products, can also serve as a deterrent for them to include excessive amounts of sugar in their products. This way, sellers will be incentivized to reduce the amount of sugar in their products in order to remain competitive in the market and make a profit.
In conclusion, increasing the cost of sugary products is an effective method of reducing sugar consumption and promoting healthier eating habits. It would not only discourage the excessive consumption of these products but also make healthier options more accessible and affordable for all.
Sample Answer 4: [Disagreement]
Processed food and most bottled drinks are packed with an excessive amount of sugar. Over-consumption of sugar is related to many deadly diseases and obesity, and this is why, many suggest that if those sugary products are made expensive, people, especially those with limited purchasing capacity, would consume less sugar and opt for healthy alternatives. I wholeheartedly disagree with this idea as I believe that this approach is not effective in curbing sugar intake.
To begin with, people do not consume sugary products only because they are cheap. Rather, they love those sugary foods and drinks because they find them tasty, satisfying and addictive. This is perhaps the reason many people in my country enjoy a bottle of soda more than they would enjoy a glass of fresh juice without any sugar in it. Furthermore, increasing the price of sugary items may lead to a situation where low-income people would opt for even lower-quality options. I believe that raising the price of sweet items in the market does not address the root cause of the issue because for many individuals sweet products are integrated with their eating habits. Some eat them as rewards, others as a coping mechanism for stress and depression.
I believe that instead of raising the price of sugary products and imposing a heavy tax on the manufacturers, a more effective approach would be to educate people about the harm of excessive intake of sugar and sugary items. The school curriculum and social campaigns should emphasize how eating healthy can make our life positive in many perspectives. Promoting healthier food options in schools, office canteens and public places, for example, could be a far better approach.
In conclusion, increasing the price of sugary food for the betterment of public health may seem like a great option on the surface, but it is not impactful. A more effective way would be to educate people and promote healthier food to combat the negative trends of consuming excessive sugary foods and drinks.
Do you agree or disagree?
Since sugary food items and drinks can lead to many health issues and cause serious harm to people consuming them, many recommend that they should be harder to obtain by making them expensive. I completely agree with this opinion and think that it would help promote public health.
First of all, I believe that sugar can become an addiction because of how much it feels good when it is eaten, which is an obstacle not to buy it. So, it would be a good idea to make it more expensive in order to make it harder to obtain. And since money is essential to survival and good living, that way people will think twice before they buy any sugary product. For example, when a person is getting a monthly salary, and he or she spends a monthly amount of money to buy manufactured sugary food and drinks, they will reconsider it when they become more expensive. That is why I think that sugary products should become harder to obtain.
Secondly, having these sugary products cheap and easy to obtain would make them obtainable to everyone including children. For instance, a kid would get a very limited amount of money as outgoings, and when these products that contain high levels of sugar are easy to get, they would buy them and eat them irresponsibly, without realizing their danger to it. Thus, the advantages of making sugary foods and drinks overpriced are more than keeping them cheap.
To conclude, I strongly believe that making sugary products costlier is more beneficial than keeping them obtainable at a cheap price.
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