Doctors call for fizzy drinks tax to tackle obesity crisis

DOCTORS have called for a tax to be imposed on sugary drinks to tackle the spiralling obesity crisis in Scotland.

A young boy downs a bottle of fizzy orange juice

A similar levy has been utilised to great effect in countries such as Mexico, Finland and Latvia, delegates to the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) conference in the Capital will hear today.

The revenue from the tax could be used to invest in public health initiatives, experts will tell the conference entitled “Obesity – a 21st century epidemic?”.

Campaigners have called on the SNP to declare its support for the move, although previously ministers have been hesitant due to fears over job losses at AG Barr – the Cumbernauld firm which produces Irn-Bru.

Professor Simon Capewell, chair of Clinical Epidemiology, Public Health and Policy at Liverpool University, addressed the conference on how the recent implementation of a ten per cent tax in Mexico saw a corresponding ten per cent reduction in consumption. He said: “It is now time to move forward on introducing a tax on sugary drinks in the UK as a central component of preventing the continuing escalation of obesity and spiralling healthcare costs.

“Scotland has an excellent track record in addressing public health issues. Notable achievements include smoke-free public places and proposals for minimum unit pricing for alcohol. We need to explore how these developments could be repeated with sugary drinks.”

There is no simple solution to the causes and treatment of obesity, but food and drink taxes are an important part of the discussion, said Professor Derek Bell, president of the RCPE.

He said: “The College also recently supported the Responsible Retailing of Energy Drinks (RRED) campaign and the City of Edinburgh Council’s decision to remove energy drinks – many of which have high sugar content – from Edinburgh Leisure venues.”

The calls were welcomed by campaigners, who stressed the Government should go further by introducing a 20 per cent tax on sugary beverages.

Malcolm Clark, co-ordinator of the Children’s Food Campaign, said: “A tax of 20 per cent, or 20p per litre, is the kind of level where you are going to see behavioural change.

“It’s about sending signals to manufacturers and consumers that these are drinks that you should be having less of.”

Such a move could save the NHS billions of pounds each year by reducing obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and tooth decay.

The British Soft Drinks Association (BDSA) argued that there was not a compelling health case for taxing sugary beverages.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “The Scottish Government will consider the evidence around the effect of food taxes in helping to improve dietary choices.”

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