Should Vat On Sun Screen Be Abolished?

[youngmafbog]

Given the Liberal I am, I think this is a good idea.

On a more practical side skin cancer costs the NHS dearly so if people are skimping on it due to being a bit brasic surely it makes economic sense too?

I must admit I rarely use it, although I tan very easily and rarely burn. Came back from Majorca once and the South Africans threatened to re categorise me but given the number of fair skinned people in the UK I'd say sun screen is a must.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/may/15/charities-call-for-scrapping-of-vat-on-sunscreen-amid-skin-cancer-fears

[Redhelen72]

whilst it would be brilliant - I speak as someone who wears a lot of sunscreen!
I think it would go the way of the tampon tax - the government abolishes it but the retailers do not pass it onto the customer.

[jno]

I agree, anything that tends to save the NHS money should be as cheap as possible, though Redhelen is doubtless correct to point out that manufacturers and retailes want it all as expensive as possible.

Still: "Melanoma Focus surveyed 2,003 adults, and found that half thought sunscreen was too expensive, while 10% said they did not use it because of the cost and two-thirds (67%) said they would use more if it were 20% cheaper."

People think everything's too expensive, but I'm not sure I believe the claim that "I'd use more if it was cheaper". Ideally, though, you'd make the high-factor variety as cheap as possible so they could use it on their kids.

[Deskdiary]

"I'd use more if it were cheaper"

Err, wouldn't that end up costing them more?

[jno]

er, wouldn't they get more for the same amount of money? Perhaps this query should be referred to a professional economist.

[Redhelen72]

I don't think people fail to wear sunscreen because its too expensive but because its fashionable to look tanned

[MissTerious2]

I think that sunscreen should come in the category of essential health products.

[youngmafbog]

I strongly suspect those that want perma tans frequent the Hot Shops as my late MiL used to call them.

I can see your point about the manufacturers simply absorbing it. Difficult to stop that though competition may mean some dont. Well not all of it.

[jno]

here's what happened to the tampon tax

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/nov/10/uk-retailers-not-passing-on-tampon-tax-savings-to-women-report-says