The British Soft Drinks Association has responded to a call for a sugary drinks duty from the UK based lobby group Children’s Food Campaign.
In response to a media release from the UK based Children’s Food Campaign, calling for a sugary drinks duty, British Soft Drinks Association director general Gavin Partington said: “This is a poorly thought out political proposal which will hit the poorest hardest while doing nothing to curb obesity, the causes of which are far more complex than this simplistic approach implies.
“In fact, evidence from France shows that while sales of soft drinks initially fell after a tax was introduced in 2012, they have increased since, with sales up 6% in the first 4 months of this year.
“Policy should be based on evidence, not a tendentious report based on a flawed model.”
On the Sustain website, under the banner ‘Children’s Health Fund’, it says: “Support the campaign for a sugary drinks duty, to pay for programmes to improve children’s health and protect the environment they grow up in.”
The site goes on to say: “The UK is currently facing a crisis in children’s diets, with rising levels of childhood obesity.
“If current trends continue, it is predicted that by 2050 half of children will be overweight or obese. Read more about the crisis in children’s diets here.
“To address the problem of childhood obesity, we believe that a number of changes must be made:
Sustain is described as ‘The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.’
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