BY ERIC KING
MP’s have backed a tax on sugary drinks as part of a bold measure to tackle child obesity in England. The Commons’ Health Committee said there was now “compelling evidence” a tax would reduce consumption.
The report also endorses a complete crackdown on marketing and advertising of sugary drinks and said calls for a tax could no longer be ignored.The government will be setting out its plans early next year when it publishes a child obesity strategy.
The collective group of MP’s from all party’s conceded that no single measure would provide a solution to the problem but pointed to evidence from Mexico which introduced a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks of 10% and saw a 6% reduction in consumption.
The MPs insisted that the government should take a strong stance 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. MP’s have asked for much tougher measures to put children off unhealthy food, like banning the use of cartoons characters to promote unhealthy food. Clearly labelling products in terms of their sugar content by using teaspoon measures of sugar to indicate this. And compelling the food industry to reduce sugar in food and drink like has been done with salt.
Mp’s should be congratulated for this move because it makes every bit of sense.
