Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Why the government is right to bring in a tax on sugary drinks
The decision of the UK Government to grasp the nettle and impose a tax on sugary drinks is very welcome. I have written at length on this blog about this subject.
My view is that whereas a general tax on sugar could be damaging and hit poorer people because so many processed foods are full of the stuff, the evidence is there to try and force drinks companies to reduce the sugar content in their drinks.
It is worth recalling that the average person consumes 150 pounds of sugar each year, the equivalent of approximately seventy five one kilogram bags or 33 tablespoons each day. Most of that will not be consumed through sugary drinks.
But the impact of these drinks on obesity and on dental health is profound and there is a place for government to counter-balance that harm by taxing it.
My view is that whereas a general tax on sugar could be damaging and hit poorer people because so many processed foods are full of the stuff, the evidence is there to try and force drinks companies to reduce the sugar content in their drinks.
It is worth recalling that the average person consumes 150 pounds of sugar each year, the equivalent of approximately seventy five one kilogram bags or 33 tablespoons each day. Most of that will not be consumed through sugary drinks.
But the impact of these drinks on obesity and on dental health is profound and there is a place for government to counter-balance that harm by taxing it.
