The British Medical Association says imposing tax on sugary drinks could reduce obesity in the UK by around 180,000 people.
Doctors’ leaders are backing the call for a tax on sugar, saying a 20p tax on sugary drinks should be imposed as the first step towards a long-term goal of taxing a wide range of products in the UK to reduce obesity.
With a third of the population estimated to be obese by 2030, The British Medical Association wants to see free schools and academies adhere to “strict food regulation” like what is in place in state schools.
The report, Food For Thought, warns that poor diets cost the NHS around £6 billion a year.
In the UK, the traditional public health challenges of under nutrition and unsafe food and water have been largely replaced by the risks of poor diet.
Written in the Food For Thought report.
The report’s author, The Science Chairwoman Professor Sheila Hollins for BMA, said: “Doctors are increasingly concerned about the impact of poor diet, which is responsible for up to 70,000 deaths a year, and has the greatest impact on the NHS budget, costing £6 billion annually.
“We know that the majority of the UK population, particularly low income households, are not consuming enough fruit and vegetables, so financial measures should also be considered to subsidise their price, which has risen by 30% since 2008.”
The report wants to impose a minimum of 20p tax on all non-alcoholic water based beverages with added sugar, including sugar-sweetened soft drinks, energy drinks and fruit-juice concentrates.
BMA believe this could help subsidise the sale of fruit and vegetables.
