Tax on sugary drinks backed by MPs
BBC News | Nick Triggle Health correspondent | 30 November 2015
A tax on sugary drinks should be introduced as part of a “bold and urgent” set of measures to tackle child obesity in England, MPs say.
The Commons’ Health Committee said there was now “compelling evidence” a tax would reduce consumption.
Its report, which puts pressure on ministers who have so far been resisting a tax, also proposes a crackdown on marketing and advertising.
Food industry representatives say a new tax would be unfair on consumers.
The government will be setting out its plans early next year when it publishes a child obesity strategy, but has said a tax is not something it favours.
The cross-party group of MPs acknowledged no single measure would provide a solution to the problem.
But the committee’s report said calls for a tax could “no longer be ignored”.
It pointed to evidence from Mexico which introduced a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks of 10% and saw a 6% reduction in consumption.
The MPs urged the government to use the strategy to take strong action on the issue, pointing out that a fifth of children start primary school overweight or obese, rising to a third by the time they leave.
