Overview of Sugar Tax
A soft drink that contains 5-8g of sugar per 100ml is taxed at 18p per litre, with a sugary drink above 8g per 100ml being taxed at 24p per litre. Fruit juices and milk-based drinks are exempt as their sugar is naturally occurring. The levy applies to manufacturers and importers of sugary soft drinks, not consumers. The tax aims to reduce consumption of sweetened beverages to decrease obesity and related health issues. The tax allows for healthier choices.
Arguments for Taxing Sugar
Should we tax sugar?
A soft drink that contains 5-8g of sugar per 100ml is taxed at 18p per litre, with a sugary drink above 8g per 100ml being taxed at 24p per litre. Fruit juices and milk-based drinks are exempt from the taxes on the grounds that their sugar is naturally occurring. The levy applies only to the manufacturers and importers of sugary soft drinks, not the consumers themselves.
The tax aims to reduce consumption of sweetened beverages to decrease obesity and related health issues. If people switch to non-sugary drinks they can avoid the tax. The tax has potential to improve public health and reduce economic costs of treating obesity-related conditions.
Impact of Sugar Tax on Health
"The effects of added sugar intake — higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver disease — are all linked to an increased risk for heart attack and stroke," says Dr. Hu.
Consideration of Sugar Tax
Is it finally time to consider putting a tax on sugar? Sales of sweets and sugary drinks have risen dramatically in the last decades, mainly due to the globalization of business and overall higher accessibility of food products. This unfortunately spells bad news for our health and our children’s health as they represent the biggest consumer group.