Milkshakes and coffees targeted in Government’s sugar tax crackdown | Politics | News
The government has announced that the sugar tax will be expanded to include packaged milkshakes and coffees in its crackdown on sugary drinks. The government will end the current sugar duty exemption for milk-based drinks, Wes Streeting told the House of Commons on Tuesday.
It is hoped the move will cut 17 million calories from the country’s daily intake, preventing diseases such as cancer, heart disease and stroke. Mr Streeting said: “An unhealthy start to life holds children back from day one, especially those from poor backgrounds like me.
“The tax has already shown that children’s health improves as the industry lowers sugar levels. So we’re going even further.”
The sugar tax, which was first introduced by the Conservative government in 2018, is currently 18 pence per liter on drinks containing at least 5 grams of total sugar per 100 ml, and 24 pence per liter on drinks containing 8 grams or more of sugar.
The government is also lowering the lower threshold from 5 grams to 4.5 grams per 100 ml. The changes will take effect from January 2028, giving manufacturers time to reformulate their products.
The current tax has led to an average 46% reduction in sugar between 2015 and 2020 in soft drinks that must comply with the rules.
England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, said the tax was already helping to slow the rise of childhood obesity and reduce hospital admissions for tooth extractions among young children.
He added: “Creating an environment where children are encouraged to drink drinks that contribute to rising obesity levels could harm their health for the rest of their lives.
“Extending the sugar tax is likely to provide further benefits to children’s health.”
Eddie Crouch, chief executive of the British Dental Association, said: “The success of this policy will not be about filling the black hole in the public finances – it will be about whether the industry can reformulate.
“Tooth decay is the number one cause of hospital admissions among young children. This is the time for the government to go further and faster with tried and tested policies.”
