Tax sugar before it’s too late, PM urged

MINISTERS must impose a sugar tax on fizzy drinks before it is too late, say experts.

They have written to David Cameron urging him to introduce the controversial levy as part of a major anti-obesity strategy.

The letter has been signed by 15 professional bodies and charities including Action on Sugar, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the National Obesity Forum.

It states: ‘The Government has a unique opportunity to produce a coherent, structured evidence-based plan to prevent obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay – conditions which are preventable if the food environment is changed.

‘Current policies are ineffective and we urgently require policies that work. Sugar tax must be put back on the table before it’s too late.’

The Government, which is due to publish a new obesity strategy next month, faces claims that it has been failing to address the crisis. A third of 11-year-olds and almost two thirds of adults are overweight or obese.

David Cameron has so far resisted calls to impose a sugar tax, amid fears that it could be unpopular with the public and penalise poorer families.

But earlier this week, Simon Ste- vens, the head of the NHS, announced that hospitals would impose their own levy in canteens and vending machines. By 2020, he wants all hospitals to charge more for sugary drinks and snacks to discourage patients and staff from buying them.

Last month the Prime Minister hinted that he might be considering a sugar tax after research showed that it could lower obesity rates significantly. A study in Mexico, where a tax has been imposed on fizzy drinks since 2014, found that sales had been reduced by 12 per cent.

Mr Cameron said: ‘I don’t really want to put new taxes on anything but we do have to recognise that we face something of an obesity crisis.

‘We do need to have a fully-worked-up programme to deal with this problem and address these issues in Britain and we will be making announcements later in the year.’

Experts say the Government should start with a 20 per cent tax on sugary soft drinks. This would increase the price of a 68p can of cola to 82p. It could be extended to sweets, chocolate and cakes if it proved successful.

A Department of Health spokesman said its childhood obesity strategy would ‘look at everything, including sugar, that contributes to a child becoming overweight and obese’ and would ‘set out what more can be done by all sides.’

‘We face an obesity crisis’