600K SUGARY DRINKS A DAY

Shock report shows Scots kids are downing too much unhealthy juice

SCOTS children are guzzling 600,000 sugary drinks a day, analysis by Cancer Research UK has shown.

That’s more than four million soft drinks consumed by two to 15-year-olds per week.

In the wake of the alarming report, the charity have renewed their calls for the Scottish Government to restrict supermarket multi-buy offers on sugary drinks.

The Scottish Government are now consulting on how to restrict price promos on food and drink high in fat and sugar.

Professor Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK’s prevention expert, said: “It’s scandalous sugary drinks are now a routine part of what our children are consuming daily.

“Supermarket multibuy deals encourage us to bulk buy, so these drinks are always within reach.

“With almost a quarter of children as young as four entering primary school overweight or obese, the consequences are all too obvious.”

Scotland has about 900,000 children under the age of 16.

Cancer Research UK said while the Sugar Tax was a “step in the right direction”, more needs to be done. Professor Bauld said a ban on multi-buy offers would help. She added: “It would go a long way to deterring families from stocking up on drinks that do so much damage to our diets.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Giving children the best start in life is one of our key priorities. Our ambition is to halve childhood obesity by 2030.

“We are consulting on measures to tackle our nation’s damaging relationship with junk food and sugary drinks.

“This includes restricting multi-buys that encourage overconsumption and more support for children and families to achieve a healthy weight.”