To mark the start of Coca Cola's sponsorship of the London Eye on Saturday 17 January, the Children's Food Campaign will be organising their own “welcoming party” and handing out 500 toothbrushes to some of the first visitors to the London Eye from 10am.
Malcolm Clark, coordinator of the Children's Food Campaign, said:
“Soft drinks are the largest single source of sugar in children and teenagers’ diets (1). Every week, almost 500 children aged 5-9 are hospitalised due to rotten teeth (2). That is why we are handing out 500 toothbrushes today outside the Coca Cola London Eye.”
“We believe it is inappropriate for a major family attraction such as the London Eye to be sponsored by a sugary drinks company. It sends completely the wrong message not just to children and their parents here in London, but - given the Eye's worldwide recognition and visitor profile - right across the globe.”
“A 20 pence per litre duty on sugary drinks would reduce sugar consumption, leading to improved health and quality of life for many thousands of people, and would save the NHS £39million in the capital alone (3). We are calling for the Government to follow France, Mexico and Hungary's lead and introduce a sugary drinks duty. The money raised could be used to set up a Children’s Health Fund, to pay for programmes to improve children's health and protect the environment they grow up in.”
10am, Saturday 17 January, on the grassy area (Jubilee Gardens) between the London Eye and the Shell Centre, Waterloo SE1 7PB. Contact: Malcolm Clark 07733322148.
Notes:
Coca Cola London Eye
On 16 September 2014, Merlin Entertainments plc – the operator of the London Eye – announced that Coca Cola Great Britain was to take over from energy company EDF as the new sponsor of the London Eye. The Eye closed for its annual maintenance period 5-16 January. On Saturday 17 January, the Eye will reopen as the Coca Cola London Eye. The first paying visitors will be allowed on at 10am. www.londoneye.com/
Children’s Health Fund and the campaign for a sugary drinks duty
See www.childrenshealthfund.org.uk
The Sugary Drinks Duty Impact Model
An interactive version of the model, along with data sources and methodology, can be viewed at www.childrenshealthfund.org.uk
Our press release
Source of Statistics:
(1) National Diet and Nutrition Survey data 2008-12, published in Public Health England, Sugar reduction: responding to the challenge 26 June 2014 (p8)
(2) Health and Social Care Information Centre – research published in Sunday Times 13 July 2014
(3) Children’s Food Campaign – research published 16 December 2014
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.
