IELTS Writing Task 2: Sugar Tax (Band 9 Sample Answer)

Excessive sugar consumption is widely recognised as a driver of obesity, diabetes and tooth decay. It has been suggested that raising the price of sugary food and drink would push people to cut down. I strongly agree that this measure would improve public health, provided it is combined with other efforts.

1Why higher prices would help

The core reason is that price directly influences behaviour. When a product becomes more expensive, many consumers simply buy less of it, and the sharp fall in cigarette sales after repeated tax rises proves how effective this approach can be. Applied to sugary goods, a similar tax would nudge shoppers towards cheaper, healthier alternatives such as water or unsweetened snacks.

A further benefit is that the revenue raised could be reinvested in healthcare and education. Governments could use the money to fund treatment for diet-related illness or to teach children about nutrition, tackling the problem from both directions at once.

2Why a tax alone is not enough

Critics rightly point out that higher prices hit the poorest hardest, since low-income families spend a larger share of their income on food. This is a genuine concern, but it can be answered by using the tax revenue to subsidise fresh produce, so that healthy eating becomes more affordable rather than less.

It is also true that price is not the only factor; habit and ignorance play a part too. For this reason a tax works best alongside clear labelling and public-health campaigns that explain why cutting sugar matters.

In conclusion, I agree that making sugary products more expensive would encourage healthier choices and generate useful funds, and although it should not be the sole solution, it is a sensible and justified step towards a healthier population.