DT News - UK - British organisations push for sugary drink tax

Dental Tribune International

Fri. 8 February 2013

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RUGBY – The British Dental Health Foundation has joined more than 60 organisations backing recommendations for a tax on sugary drinks. The movement is partly based on a report by charity Sustain that makes three main recommendations for budget 2013 to help improve children’s health.

The report proposes the introduction of a sugary drinks duty for the UK, for example at 20p per litre. This would raise around £1 billion a year. The majority of this money could be put into a Children’s Future Fund and be spent on improving children’s health by, for example, providing free school meals or sustainably produced fruit and vegetable snacks in schools. An independent body could be given the responsibility to oversee how the sugary drinks duty is implemented and ensure that the revenue is spent effectively.

In the UK, 60 per cent of adults are considered overweight and obese. Diet-related illnesses cost the NHS billions each year, and the incidence of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease has increased.

As well as combating the growing obesity epidemic, successful implementation of the recommendations would greatly benefit the oral health of children today and of future generations, the foundation stated.

Chief Executive Dr Nigel Carter OBE said: “The increase in consumption of sugary drinks is one of the key reasons for dental decay, particularly in children. According to Carter, the introduction of a duty on sugary drinks will result in an inevitable reduction in consumption and benefits for both general and dental health. “Cutting down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks is one of the foundation’s key messages, and any measure that helps reduce how often our teeth are exposed to sugary foods and drinks is one the foundation wholeheartedly welcomes.”

Sustain, which represents around 100 national public interest organisations working at international, national, regional and local level aiming at better food and farming, advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture, and promote equity.

The full report, titled “A Children’s Future Fund—How food duties could provide the money to protect children’s health and the world they grow up in”, can be downloaded from the charity’s website.

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