I'm going to stick up for this one.
I had a summer job working in a chip shop when I was in school. Of all of the chippies in town, the one I worked in was the quietest. Even then, on an average week day, when most of the day was dead, I was re-filling the 1/2kg salt shakers at least 4 times a day. Lets say 200 people a day ( on a good day ) and that's 10g of salt on a single meal on average.
AND - there were some hefty fella's who would eat at the shop 5-6 days a week ( as it mean "no washing up" - for goodness sake.... :( ) - and often these people would have 2 meals a day from us. These are not people who have the odd fish'n'chips, but big hefty people who have them pretty much every day.
Most people don't bother with getting a fixed amount of salt on - they'll give it a few shakes and then they're off - so if my old chippy has used these shakers, then it would mean much less salt going on - granted, some people would probably "top up" at home, but many wouldn't.
Those salt shakers are pretty sturdy things. Lets say they last 5 years.
Over 5 years, that reduced salt might mean that one of those fat lumps who eat 2 pie and chips a day with treble salt on top might NOT have a heart attack.
Today ( 2008 prices ) an "average" heart attack costs the NHS £22,000 all-in (drugs, outpatients, consultant meetings etc etc )
So it's a gamble. £450 vs a potential £22,000. ( or maybe £25,000 after 5 years ).
Worse case, a few people eat a bit less salt, which is never a bad thing. However, there is a degree of chance in having a big pay off. I'm not sure what that chance is - I would take a punt and say 50:50. But even if it was only 10:90, it's probably worth taking a punt on it.
Well, it is in my opinion, but there is just as good a counter argument.
Also, the mortality rate for heart attacks ( barring all the stuff about the golden hour etc ) is about 3/10. So maybe a life gets saved in the process. Central government ( although not local ) reckon that £8m is worth spending on a project per life that could be saved. ( They blatently don't stick to it in ANY way, but that's what they are supposed to budget for projects which may save lives - also armed forces personell have a MUCH lower figure - knock two zero's off that £8m figure and your close - which is shameful but an entirely seperate discussion ).
Steve
