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UK might ban food on public transport

Public Transport - Level 0

The UK wants to food and drink on public transport. This is not popular with people. They say governments should not say who can eat and drink on trains and buses. The UK said the plan was necessary. It wants to halve obesity in children by 2030. It also wants to help people live healthier lives.

There are two times more overweight schoolchildren today than in 1990. Children today have too much unhealthy food and drink. They also do not exercise enough. Many travelers are angry about the plan. A busy nurse said it would be bad for her. She said: "I need a sandwich on the train on my way home from work."

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Public Transport - Level 1

The UK is thinking about banning food and drink on public transport. This is not popular with people. They say governments should not control what people can eat and drink on trains and buses. Many people said it is an example of the UK wanting to control everyone's life. The UK's Chief Medical Officer said the plan was necessary to halve obesity in children by 2030. It is also to help people live healthier lives.

The medical officer said there are two times more overweight schoolchildren today than in 1990. She said: "Today's children are drowning in a flood of unhealthy food and drink options." This is made worse because children do not exercise enough. She also wants a ban on fast food at soccer games. Many travelers are angry about the plan. A busy nurse said it would make her life worse. She said: "I need a sandwich on the train on my way home from work."

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Public Transport - Level 2

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The UK government is thinking about banning food and drink on public transport. The plan is to ban eating and drinking on trains and buses. It is not popular with people. They say governments should not control what people can eat and drink on public transport. Many people said it is an example of the UK becoming a "nanny state" - a country that wants to control people's lives. The UK's Chief Medical Officer said the plan was necessary to help halve obesity in children by 2030. It is also to help people make healthier lifestyle choices.

The medical officer said there are two times more overweight schoolchildren today than 30 years ago. She said: "Today's children are drowning in a flood of unhealthy food and drink options." She said this is made worse because children do not get sufficient exercise. She added: "We must go further and faster." The UK also wants a ban on fast food at soccer games. Many travelers are angry. A nurse said the transport ban would make her life worse. She said: "I often work 12 hours without a break and I need a sandwich on the train on my way home from work."

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Public Transport - Level 3

The United Kingdom's government is thinking about banning all food and drink on public transport. The UK's plan to ban people eating and drinking on trains and buses is not popular with people. They say the government should not control whether or not people can eat and drink on public transport. Many people said the plan was another example of the UK becoming a "nanny state". This is a country that wants to control everything people can and cannot do. The UK's Chief Medical Officer, professor Sally Davies, said the plan was necessary to help reduce obesity. She said it was part of a plan to halve obesity in children by 2030 and to help people make healthier lifestyle choices.

Professor Davies reported that there are twice as many overweight schoolchildren today as there were 30 years ago. She said: "Today's children are drowning in a flood of unhealthy food and drink options." She said this is made worse because of "insufficient opportunities for being active". She said children do not get enough exercise. She added: "We must go further and faster." Ms Davies also wants to stop fast food being sold at soccer games. Many travelers are angry about the plans. A nurse, Nicky Paxton, said the transport ban would make her life worse. She said: "I often work 12 hours without a break and I need a sandwich on the train on my way home from work."

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