Plea to use sugar tax to fight obesity

Revenue raised from the new sugar tax — due to come into effect next month — should be earmarked to tackle obesity, said Fianna Fail health spokesperson Billy Kelleher. An estimated €30m is expected to be raised in tax from the new measure this year and €40m annually from next year. The tax will add around 10 cents to a standard can of cola, and is due to come into effect from April 6. “Almost one in 10 children in Ireland are obese, 10 times the rate in 1975. We need to see decisive action to get to grips with this growing public health crisis,” Mr Kelleher said.