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Action on Sugar

Sugar Tax rates announced in HM Treasury Spring Budget 2017

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In today's Spring Budget, Chancellor Philip Hammond MP confirmed the sugar tax rates from April 2018.

For Media Coverage: Spring Budget media coverage

 

Registered Nutritionist Jenny Rosborough, Campaign Manager at Action on Sugar says: “We are fully supportive of the sugar tax levy and the commitments we’ve already seen from a growing number of drink manufacturers who’ve started to reduce sugar to less than 5% across popular brands.

Sugar-sweetened drinks are the biggest contributor of sugar in the diets of children and teenagers and unless they are reduced these drinks will still contribute to the high levels of obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay, all of which are preventable and cost the NHS billions of pounds each year. We now strongly urge all manufacturers to reformulate and avoid the levy.”

The Obesity Health Alliance, a coalition of over 30 organisations, says: “The Soft Drinks Industry Levy is a bold, positive and necessary move we believe will help reduce the amount of sugar our children consume.

“There is evidence from other countries that show similar taxes have helped to reduce the amount of sugary soft drinks consumed.

“We’ve already seen a number of companies in the UK announce plans to reduce sugar content in their products, so clearly the potential impact is huge. This is a significant step in the battle against obesity and the Government should be applauded for its commitment to seeing it through.”

 

 

 

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