Research underlines the need for a tax on sugary drinks

An analysis of 131 drinks available in popular high street coffee shops, published by the campaign group Action on Sugar, has found that a third had at least as much sugar as a can of fizzy drink – which in itself is more than an adult’s recommended daily allowance of added sugar - with the worst containing almost 100g, or 25 teaspoons’ worth.

The Government is expected to publish plans to tackle childhood obesity within the next few weeks, and FGDP(UK) has been among those calling for full implementation of Public Health England’s recommendations to reduce the nation’s sugar consumption, including a tax on sugary drinks. Responding to Action on Sugar’s analysis, Mick Horton, dean of FGDP(UK), said:

“Sugar contributes to a wide range of illnesses, including tooth decay, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers. These days most of us may be aware of the unhealthy amount of sugar in a can of pop, but may not realise that hot drinks bought on the high street often contain just as much, and that’s before we add any ourselves. That some contain as much sugar as an entire packet of chocolate biscuits is shocking – that’s more than three times an adult’s recommended daily allowance of sugar, in a single drink!