Posted on December 18, 2015 by Kate Halsall
Don’t think that just because Jamie Oliver supports it, that having a sugar tax is a new concept. Back in 2014 doctors suggested that there should be a soft drinks tax. The Chief Medical Officer also hinted that a sugar tax may be necessary. The reasoning behind the calls for a sugar tax have not changed either – they are focused on ways to reduce obesity in children. With some supermarkets now committing to reduce the sugar content in their drinks ranges, do we think that a tax on certain types of sugar will actually make a difference?
PROS:
- We know that there is an obesity problem in the UK and that sugar (in addition to other foods stuff) is therefore bad for our health. Other consumables that are bad for our health are already taxed i.e. alcohol and tobacco
- Making fizzy drinks more expensive may see a reduction in how many people have in a day. Not only are sugary drinks bad for your waistline, but it’s also not great for your teeth!
- In conjunction with clear food labelling this would go some way to educate consumers about their diet and daily intake of nutrients
CONS:
- This could be seen as a tax on obesity – is this discrimination?
- We can’t resolve an obesity problem by just cutting out fizzy drinks!
- If someone really wants a fizzy drink, they will pay for it, regardless of the cost.
- The proposed tax would only target fizzy drinks. What about those other sources of refined sugar such as cereals and sweets?
- The tax could mean that people turn to more artificially sweetened drinks such as “diet” versions of the same brand – goodbye sugar, hello aspartamine & saccharin!
- Bigger picture view – we know that some people drink A LOT of fizzy drinks – what support will they be given when they start showing signs of sugar withdrawal (if they stopped drinking fizzy drinks)?
- What about those people who are overweight or obese but it’s because of other foods/drinks they consume….not fizzy drinks!?
I’ll be honest, whilst I thing a sugar tax is a good thing, I don’t think it will make a significant difference to the UK’s obesity problem. There needs to be more accessible support networks, more education, and more focus on nutrition and exercise overall. As personal trainers, it’s often surprising how little any new clients know about nutrition and hidden sugars. Maybe education is a better step forwards than the sugar tax?
http://www.jamieoliver.com/sugar-rush/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/11622500/Sugar-tax-to-pay-for-treating-obesity.html