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Sugar tax comes into effect in the UK

DCUK NewsBot

DCUK NewsBot

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The long-awaited sugar tax has come into effect in the UK, meaning food and drink manufacturers have a financial incentive to reduce the amount of sugar in drinks. Since the sugar tax was announced in 2016, manufacturers have been faced with the decision to either reformulate their products to reduce sugar quantity or stick with their existing high-sugar recipes and face a levy. Drinks with 5g of sugar per 100ml will face a tax of 18p per litre, while those with more than 8g per 100ml will face a higher rate, 24p per litre. The government's move is designed to reduce rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes, with childhood obesity levels continuing to rise in the UK. It is also hoped that the sugar tax will help improve children's oral health. As evidenced by existing sugar taxes such as the one in Mexico, where a 10% tax on sugary drinks was introduced in 2014, sugar consumption has fallen for two straight years, and researchers are optimistic this will be reflected in reduced healthcare expenses. Leading brands such as Irn-Bru, Fanta and Lucozade have already reduced the sugar content of their drinks. In the process Lucozade revealed that people with type 1 diabetes might need to change how they treat hypoglycemia. But other brands such as Coca-Cola have not reformulated their products. Whether or not the levy is passed on to consumers is up to manufacturers, but it is believed everybody will pay more. For example, the price of a 1.75-litre bottle of supermarket cola could increase by 25%. This is far from a bad thing though, as it provides incentive for people to swerve needless sugar intake and save money in the process. Benedict Jephcote, Editor of Diabetes.co.uk, said: "Sugary drinks are undoubtedly popular for their taste, but we know that the benefits of the taste come with a very significant downside in terms of health. "Research shows how negatively sugar affects the liver for instance, and the knock-on effects of too much sugar are known to raise risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes and many other health problems that have become so common." On our Low Carb Program, which helps people at risk of or with existing type 2 diabetes to lose weight and improve their health, we show you how to enjoy healthy, tasty drinks without increasing your sugar intake.

Continue reading...
 
I know this is an unpopular move in some quarters but I agree wholeheartedly. Manufacturers must be made aware of the harm caused and if that means fewer dividends for greedy shareholders then so be it.
 
Trouble is, consumers take the hit @Guzzler ....

Idiots in government here in Australia did similar with a huge tax increase on alcopops. Change consumption? Nope.

We all know where the problem lies. Parents, adults and kids and sheer laziness thru bad habits. Hit manufacturers for all they're worth might not be a bad thing either but the blame (of course) lies with all

A tax is simply a passed on burden by governments in pursuit of revenue and indifference to the population. Problem the world over :(
 
Mike D said:
Trouble is, consumers take the hit @Guzzler ....

Idiots in government here in Australia did similar with a huge tax increase on alcopops. Change consumption? Nope.

We all know where the problem lies. Parents, adults and kids and sheer laziness thru bad habits. Hit manufacturers for all they're worth might not be a bad thing either but the blame (of course) lies with all

A tax is simply a passed on burden by governments in pursuit of revenue and indifference to the population. Problem the world over :(
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I agree to a certain extent. We live in affluent societies so the price increase may not be that big of a hit but a tax is a start in raising awareness. It is going to take far more to persuade people to limit their sugar intake and I would dearly like to see the abolition of carby drinks and snacks from hospitals and schools as the next step. In my ideal world the pop companies should be stopped from sponsoring the Olympics etc just as the tobacco corps were. Draconian? Indeed, but if this kind of thing works then in my humble opinion it would go a long way in making people aware that too much sugar is a bad thing. We the people hold the purse strings and the sooner we all know the tricks and lies of Big Food then the healthier we will turn out to be.

Come the Revolution!
 
I was looking at some popular drinks in the supermarket today that previously had a lot of added sugar. (various brands). They have reduced the sugar a lot, but made up for it with aspartame sweetener. Quite honestly, I'd rather have sugar.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
I was looking at some popular drinks in the supermarket today that previously had a lot of added sugar. (various brands). They have reduced the sugar a lot, but made up for it with aspartame sweetener. Quite honestly, I'd rather have sugar.
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I have to agree about the Aspartame. My body knows what to do with sugar (albeit badly) but it just doesn't know what to make of Aspartame, the liver tries to metabolise it into something recognisable but it fails.
The harm it does to the gut biome is now known and its links to brain tumours is very worrying.
Did I mention the deceit of Big Food?
 
Agree with all of that @Guzzler .. save for the tax that will be forgotten not much longer after it's imposed whilst governments fill their coffers

... and no issue with draconian measure either. Hit it at the source :) Smoking (and I was one until I kicked it) have damaged their industry and the taxes had a major influence on that outcome. So did relentless health warnings
 
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Mike D said:
Agree with all of that @Guzzler .. save for the tax that will be forgotten not much longer after it's imposed whilst governments fill their coffers

... and no issue with draconian measure either. Hit it at the source :) Smoking (and I was one) have damaged the industry and the taxes had a major influence on that outcome. So did relentless health warnings
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Well the 5p per plastic bag has reduced their usage by something like 90%.
I think that this tax is expected to raise about £240 mio which is hardly gonna scratch the surface of the NHS.
But it has raised awareness of the problems of excessive sugar in low nutrient drinks so it's not all bad news. Of course I expect most parents will just switch to fruit juice so creating the next problem through excessive fructose consumption... hey ho.
 
I am minded of the time word spread about the colouring used in red Smarties, the cochineal (sp) beetle fact led to manufacturers changing the recipe. I should imagine that those who follow a vegan ethos were most aggrieved when they dicovered what was being used, I know I would have been.
 
bulkbiker said:
Well the 5p per plastic bag has reduced their usage by something like 90%.
I think that this tax is expected to raise about £240 mio which is hardly gonna scratch the surface of the NHS.
But it has raised awareness of the problems of excessive sugar in low nutrient drinks so it's not all bad news. Of course I expect most parents will just switch to fruit juice so creating the next problem through excessive fructose consumption... hey ho.
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We have a different view in Australia re plastic bags. We use 'em to collect the kitchen recycling (cans bottles etc) then dump all of that into the major bin. They are very thin and breakdown easily
 
Sugarydrinks did not make me fat. I drank the diet versions. I wish I had stuck to the sugary ones as I now know that the artificial sweeteners can help to cause fatty liver and insulin resistance...I don't think the obesity epidemic will be helped by these taxes at all, maybe short term, but in 20 years time when more people have messed up their metabolisms like I did....well, we'll see. I am upset that I can't find a squash at all now without acritical sweeteners. I didn't use it often, but will miss it.
 
Mike D said:
Agree with all of that @Guzzler .. save for the tax that will be forgotten not much longer after it's imposed whilst governments fill their coffers

... and no issue with draconian measure either. Hit it at the source :) Smoking (and I was one) have damaged the industry and the taxes had a major influence on that outcome. So did relentless health warnings
Click to expand...
Supply and Demand. Increased price will lead to reduced consumption. Sugar is not heroin
 
DCUK NewsBot said:
The long-awaited sugar tax has come into effect in the UK, meaning food and drink manufacturers have a financial incentive to reduce the amount of sugar in drinks. Since the sugar tax was announced in 2016, manufacturers have been faced with the decision to either reformulate their products to reduce sugar quantity or stick with their existing high-sugar recipes and face a levy. Drinks with 5g of sugar per 100ml will face a tax of 18p per litre, while those with more than 8g per 100ml will face a higher rate, 24p per litre. The government's move is designed to reduce rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes, with childhood obesity levels continuing to rise in the UK. It is also hoped that the sugar tax will help improve children's oral health. As evidenced by existing sugar taxes such as the one in Mexico, where a 10% tax on sugary drinks was introduced in 2014, sugar consumption has fallen for two straight years, and researchers are optimistic this will be reflected in reduced healthcare expenses. Leading brands such as Irn-Bru, Fanta and Lucozade have already reduced the sugar content of their drinks. In the process Lucozade revealed that people with type 1 diabetes might need to change how they treat hypoglycemia. But other brands such as Coca-Cola have not reformulated their products. Whether or not the levy is passed on to consumers is up to manufacturers, but it is believed everybody will pay more. For example, the price of a 1.75-litre bottle of supermarket cola could increase by 25%. This is far from a bad thing though, as it provides incentive for people to swerve needless sugar intake and save money in the process. Benedict Jephcote, Editor of Diabetes.co.uk, said: "Sugary drinks are undoubtedly popular for their taste, but we know that the benefits of the taste come with a very significant downside in terms of health. "Research shows how negatively sugar affects the liver for instance, and the knock-on effects of too much sugar are known to raise risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes and many other health problems that have become so common." On our Low Carb Program, which helps people at risk of or with existing type 2 diabetes to lose weight and improve their health, we show you how to enjoy healthy, tasty drinks without increasing your sugar intake.

Continue reading...
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That is progress
 
dbr10 said:
Sugar is not heroin
emoji3.png
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It is addictive though. Those who want sugary drinks will still buy them. Those who don't will turn to fruit juice (worse) and low cal drinks with artificial sweeteners (worse long term and also bad for teeth as they erode enamel)
 
I was unaware that that other people felt the same way as I do about artificial sweeteners. It is a nice surprise. There is the thorny issue of the new gen sweeteners such as Stevia. In my opinion anything that has to go through multiple processes between plant and final product (40, I beleive it is for Stevia) cannot be considered a natural product, added to this is the fact that Stevia is sometimes 'cut' with other sweeteners is the Big Food deceit I mentioned earlier.
 
zand said:
It is addictive though. Those who want sugary drinks will still buy them. Those who don't will turn to fruit juice (worse) and low cal drinks with artificial sweeteners (worse long term and also bad for teeth as they erode enamel)
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Quite right. I meant in terms of demand.
 
Guzzler said:
I agree to a certain extent. We live in affluent societies so the price increase may not be that big of a hit but a tax is a start in raising awareness. It is going to take far more to persuade people to limit their sugar intake and I would dearly like to see the abolition of carby drinks and snacks from hospitals and schools as the next step. In my ideal world the pop companies should be stopped from sponsoring the Olympics etc just as the tobacco corps were. Draconian? Indeed, but if this kind of thing works then in my humble opinion it would go a long way in making people aware that too much sugar is a bad thing. We the people hold the purse strings and the sooner we all know the tricks and lies of Big Food then the healthier we will turn out to be.

Come the Revolution!
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This makes good reading: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/04/sugary-drinks-banned-sale-nhs-hospitals-july/
 
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