Sugar Tax Could Save the NHS up to £300 Million, Researchers Claim

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Researchers claim that a sugar tax imposed on fizzy drinks could save the NHS up to £300 million.

Research teams from the University of Liverpool believe that a 20 per litre sugar tax, which would equate to 12p per can of cola, would cut NHS bills by £300 million. The team estimates that the tax would reduce consumption, contributing to lower rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, strokes, some forms of cancer and heart disease. Researchers claim that the number of cases of type 2 diabetes could fall by up to 50,000 in just 2 years, with a predicted decrease of 33,000 strokes and cases of heart disease and 9,000 fewer patients diagnosed with bowel cancer.

The University of Liverpool has been working with the Children’s Food Campaign and the figures will be used to strengthen the petition to introduce a sugar tax. The campaign to reduce sugar consumption has been backed by over 60 organisations, including dental bodies, health experts and children’s charities.

Malcolm Clark from the Children’s Food Campaign said that taxes currently don’t support healthy choices and a sugar tax would encourage people to make better decisions, as well as saving the NHS a significant amount of money.

Mr Clark’s sentiments were supported by Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, who described taxes on unhealthy products as “a no-brainer” and said that we need to target soaring rates of decay among very young children at the root cause, which is excessive sugar consumption.

 

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