Health Campaigners Call For Sugary Drink Tax To Pay For School Meals
Health campaigners are calling for a tax on sugary drinks to go toward the cost of paying for healthy school meals for children.
Sustain, a food and farming charity, claimed the Government could earn around £1 billion per year from a tax on sugary drinks and suggested that the money be spent on healthy, nutritious meals for school children.
A report produced by the charity claims that the Government could raise a huge amount of money, as well as taking major steps towards battling the increasingly worrying issue of child obesity. Research suggests that children are consuming more sugar than ever before with many drinking at least one can of fizzy pop per day. Excessive sugar consumption can lead to weight gain and an increased risk of diabetes and oral health problems.
The report has been backed by a number of health organisations including the Royal Society for Public Health, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the National Heart Forum and Friends of the Earth.
The report claims that weight-related illnesses cost the NHS in excess of £6 billion each year and the figure is rising. The NHS is pushed to its limits already and there will simply not be enough money to pay for everyone in the future if the trend continues.
Sustain has urged Chancellor George Osborne to introduce the drinks tax in his next budget and to spend the money on campaigns to encourage children to eat healthy and to help with the cost of providing healthy school meals.
Charlie Powell, campaigns manager at Sustain, said it was great that so many organisations had got behind the campaign and urged the government to show a commitment to the health of future generations by reducing sugar consumption and decreasing the number of children affected by weight-related illnesses.
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