Sugar tax: a recipe to cut decay

This substantial reduction in dental disease would arise if the soft drinks industry were simply to cut the amount of sugar they add to soft drinks, according to the authors of ‘The health impact assessment of the UK soft drinks levy: A comparative risk assessment modelling study’.

It’s unknown how the soft drinks industry will respond to the new government tax, but the authors of the Lancet study believe that the greatest health benefits would be achieved from reformulation. The BDA believes cutting sugar at source – and before the rot starts – would be a win-win situation for industry and consumers alike, and would help turn the tide on an epidemic of tooth decay.

The latest survey from Public Health England shows that one in four children in England are still living with tooth decay. Tooth decay – a preventable disease – is the number one reason children are admitted to hospitals across the UK. This painful and distressing condition causes untold misery including severe pain, sleepless nights and missing out on education from lost days from school.