England to introduceTax on sugary drinks to reduce consumption

England are putting the health of his country first they plan to tax sugary drinks to reduce consumption, when its expensive the parent will hardly buy it for the children and they will minimize their intake. 

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.


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.

Media caption Dr Sarah Wollaston MP: "Mexico introduced an extra tax just on sugary drinks"

As well as a tax, the committee called for:

• A crackdown on price promotions of unhealthy foods
• Tougher controls on marketing, including the use of cartoon characters to promote unhealthy food
• A ban on advertising unhealthy foods on television before 21:00
• Clearer labelling of products showing sugar content in teaspoons
• A drive to force industry to reduce sugar in food and drink as has happened with salt

The MPs said the government in England should work with its counterparts in the rest of the UK on these points.