The call for taxation comes from the British Medical Association (BMA). The association of medical practitioners has called for a 20 percent tax on sugary drinks. The idea is that the money raised be hypothecated, with the funds directed to help address Britain’s growing obesity epidemic.This is set out in the report Food for Thought: Promoting Healthy Diets among Children and Young People.
In relation to the tax, BMA board of science chair Baroness Hollins has stated: “We know from experience in other countries that taxation on unhealthy food and drinks can improve health outcomes, and the strongest evidence of effectiveness is for a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.”
The medical doctor also added: “If a tax of at least 20 per cent is introduced, it could be expected to reduce the prevalence of obesity in the UK by around 180,000 people.”
The Faculty of Public Health has backed the BMA’s call and it has included the measure in its new 12-point plan for better public health. This report is titled Start Well, Live Better – a manifesto.
Whether taxation is the answer is likely to be hotly debated. The Sustainable Food Trust has highlighted the main objections:
First, such taxes are ‘regressive’ nature. That is, they would disproportionately affect lower-income families “who spend a larger proportion of their income on food and tend to eat and drink more ‘unhealthy’ (taxable) foods.”
Second, there could be a ‘substitution’ effect. This means people might “switch from a taxed product to untaxed (and equally unhealthy) products.”
Third, whether increasing prices really leads to behavior changes is uncertain.
Fourth, such a tax would also affect ‘healthy’ people who can consume occasional sugary drinks without being affected in terms of weight gain.
The counter argument, is that such a tax has seemingly worked in Mexico. Here a 10 percent tax correlated with a 6 percent decline in sugary drink sales.
Instead of tax, Public Health England (PHE) has called on parents to restrict the number of sugar drinks given to their children. Here, Duncan Selbie, who is Chief Executive of PHE, has written: “One-fifth of 10 to 11 year olds are obese and almost two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese and sugary drinks are a major contributor. There is nothing good about a sugary drink, particularly if you are under the age of 11, and we must work together to find ways to wean ourselves from the sugar habit.”
