Cameron puts sugary drinks tax back on the menu
Prime Minister David Cameron has suggested that Government could perform a U-turn on a sugary drinks tax and says dealing with UK’s Obesity crisis should be treated as seriously as smoking.
Ben Reynolds, from food and farming charity Sustain who are leading the Sugary Drinks Duty campaign, commented: “We are really heartened that Cameron is putting common sense first and ensuring all options to tackle childhood obesity on the table. A sugary drinks tax is arguably the best evidenced option being considered, with many examples globally showing how successful it could be in tackling diet related disease. As well as improving lives, and saving taxpayers money in the long run, this could have an even bigger impact if the money raised is spent on improving children’s health and the environment they grow up in, particularly those from the most deprived backgrounds.”
He continued, “the argument that this is regressive is nonsense, and tends to be used by the food industry whose sudden apparent concern for the poor may leave some a little sceptical. The current situation we have is regressive, with children from poor backgrounds suffering huge health inequalities compared to those from richer families, with the gap widening by the time they leave primary school. This tax would encourage less consumption, particularly amongst poorer families, putting more money back in the pockets of those who most need it.”
The story has been covered in the following press:
The Times, The Daily Mail, ITV, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Observer and BBC
Published Friday 8 January 2016
Sugary Drinks Duty: Support the campaign for a sugary drinks duty, to pay for programmes to improve childrens health and protect the environment they grow up in.
