Should there be a sugar tax?

Doctors have stated that sugar is responsible for more disease, than alcohol and smoking combined. As we have tax on alcohol and smoking, shouldn’t there also be tax on sugar to contribute to the £9 billion/year NHS cost?

Diabetes UK says the disease is the fastest growing health threat of our times. The NHS spends one tenth of its budget on diabetes.

Jamie Oliver and Sustain have a petition running asking for a tax of 7p per regular-sized can of soft drink with added sugar. This could generate £1 billion per year and be ring-fenced to support much needed preventative strategies in the NHS and schools around childhood obesity and diet-related disease.

Studies show that soft drinks with added sugar are the largest single source of sugar in the diet’s of UK school children & teenagers.

Tooth decay caused by sugar is the most common reason that children aged 5-9 years are admitted to hospital & type-2 diabetes is costing the NHS around £9 billion a year. It’s clear action is needed.

To sign Jamie’s petition click here

Why stop at soft drinks? This tax will only raise £1 billion of the required £9 billion. Just like alcohol and smoking shouldn’t people, or parents of children, who chose to buy products that do them harm, pay tax to contribute to their eventual healthcare?