The Children’s Food Campaign has today published figures showing that the introduction of a 20p per litre duty on sugary drinks would benefit Londoners’ health, as well as save the NHS and public health budgets in London £39 million over twenty years.
Oral health campaigners the British Dental Health Foundation also believe the duty would help to reduce levels of tooth decay seen in children age 3-12, particularly as soft drinks are the largest single source of sugar for children aged 4-10 years and teenagers.
The research is published in association with University of Liverpool’s Brendan Collins and with FoodActive. It shows that if the UK government introduced a 20p per litre sugary drinks duty the impact in London over twenty years would be to:
- Reduce the cases of diabetes by over 6,300.
- Prevent over 1,100 cases of cancer.
- Reduce strokes and cases of coronary heart disease by over 4,300.
- Improve the quality of life for thousands of residents.
The Children’s Food Campaign is calling for the government to introduce a 20p per litre sugary drinks duty to reduce sugar consumption. The Campaign proposes that any revenue generated would be used to set up a Children’s Health Fund, paying for programmes to improve children’s health and protect the environment they grow up in.
Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, said: “Drinks packed with sugar have long been problematic to oral health. As a charity dedicated to improving oral health we have supported a number of policies designed to curb sugary drinks consumption, and the figures released by the Children’s Food Campaign highlights the need for such a tax.
“The fact that London alone could save £39 million is staggering. If this could be replicated across the country the savings could be substantial. The money wasted on treating children with tooth decay could be reinvested into preventive educational materials.
“One in four children starting school has tooth decay, and around one in three 12 year-olds have visible dental decay. These figures support the need for health bodies and professionals across the country to work together in safeguarding the general and oral health of children, and promoting the value of prevention.
“The increase in consumption of sugary drinks is one of the key reasons for dental decay, particularly in children. By proposing the introduction of a duty on sugary drinks there are numerous benefits. There will be an inevitable decrease in consumption, and the financial aspect will appeal to many decision makers in the health industry.
“Cutting down on sugary foods and drinks is one of the British Dental Health Foundation's key messages, and any measure which helps reduce how often our teeth are exposed to sugary foods and drinks is one that we wholeheartedly welcome.”
Malcolm Clark, co-ordinator of the Children’s Food Campaign, said: “A duty on sugary drinks of 20 pence per litre would be the most practical and effective way of tackling a significant source of unnecessary calories and sugar in children’s and young people’s diets. Mexico, France and Hungary have already introduced a sugary drinks duty, and their citizens are reaping the benefits. In this country CitizensUK, trade unions and dozens of other organisations all support a duty. Our politicians can no longer hide behind the idea that it wouldn’t be popular, or that it is an untried policy.
“We urge London’s mayor and council leaders to include a sugary drinks duty in their review of how London might manage devolved taxation powers, and to make the case to Westminster for the introduction of such a duty nationally.”
Residents can view the impact a sugar drinks duty would have on their own borough, by using the interactive tool on the campaign’s website www.childrenshealthfund.org.uk