"There is little evidence to demonstrate that a tax on soft drinks actually tackles obesity", experts say

While the UK is implementing its tax on soft drinks, experts provide their insights on the broader context and trends on sugar reduction in the UK.

Anna Masing, from Stylus, underlines that we are “seeing a real sea change with brands of all sizes exploring new product and flavour innovation, from low-sugar soft drinks to new lines for vegans“. She says that “while the tax might be shining the spotlight on sugar, the trend towards developing healthier alternatives is so much bigger than that and one that has been bubbling away for some time”.

Martin Hook, from Ayming UK, confirms that “drinks companies have been steadily making their drinks healthier to combat obesity – sugar free and diet versions have been around for some time“.

Mark Jones, from Gordons law, underlines that “this levy in isolation is unlikely to have any significant effect on our health“. While he calls it a “step in the right direction“, he nonetheless recognizes that “there is little evidence to demonstrate that [a tax] actually tackles the problem of calorie intake/calorie balance“. He calls for “taxes on high calorie and high sugar food products too“.

An academic, Daniel Bailey from the University of Bedfordshire, shares the same analysis, questioning whether the tax will “have any success in reducing how much sugar people consume“.

The full article in Beverage Daily can be found here.