Brighton and Hove council are asking residents to join in the debate on what can be done. They also want catering outlets to join Jamie Oliver in introducing a 10p charge on all soft drinks with added sugar - with funds raised going to the Children's Health Fund administered by Sustain.
Malcolm Clark, co-ordinator, Children's Food Campaign commented, "We fully support the sugar smart city initiative and are looking to work with Councils and communities up and down the country to implement measures enabling people to reduce their sugar consumption - whether through better access to free drinking water, increasing the number of outlets putting a levy on sugary drinks, or through the Council passing a declaration on healthy weight and sugar reduction, as several local authorities in the North West are about to take the lead on. But we should not forget the crucial role the central government needs to play in setting tougher rules on marketing of less healthy food and drink, and in pushing retailers and manufacturers to make the necessary changes to their products and promotions."
Children's Health Fund: Set up by Jamie Oliver and Sustain in August 2015, the aim is to get restaurants to volunteer to put a 10p levy on non-alcoholic soft drinks with added sugar. This money will be paid into the Children’s Health Fund to support programmes and schemes aimed at improving children’s health and food education.