This petition was submitted during the 2015–2017 Conservative government
Petition Introduce a tax on sugary drinks in the UK to improve our children's health.
Experts believe a tax of just 7p per regular-sized can of soft drink with added sugar could generate £1 billion per year. We believe this crucial revenue should be ring-fenced to support much needed preventative strategies in the NHS and schools around childhood obesity and diet-related disease.
More details
Studies show that soft drinks with added sugar are the largest single source of sugar in the diet's of UK school children & teenagers
Many health experts are increasingly concerned about sugars contribution to weight gain & type-2 diabetes.
Tooth decay caused by sugar is the most common reason that children aged 5-9 years are admitted to hospital & type-2 diabetes is costing the NHS around £9 billion a year. It's clear action is needed.
Please show your support.
Jamie Oliver and Sustain
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Parliament debated this topic
This topic was debated on 30 November 2015
Government responded
This response was given on 18 September 2015
The Government has no plans to introduce a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. The Government will announce its plans for tackling childhood obesity by the end of the year.
Read the response in full
The Government has no plans to introduce a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.
The Government has committed to a tax lock to avoid raising the cost of living and to promote UK productivity and economic growth, however, the Government keeps all taxes under review, with decisions being a matter for the Chancellor as part of the Budget process.
The causes of obesity are complex, caused by a number of dietary, lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors, and tackling it will require a comprehensive and broad approach. As such, the Government is considering a range of options for tackling childhood obesity, and the contribution that Government, alongside industry, families and communities can make, and will announce its plans for tackling childhood obesity by the end of the year.
Department of Health
Related activity
Jamie Oliver gives evidence to Health Committee on childhood obesity
You recently signed a petition on the UK Government and Parliament Petitions website to:
Introduce a tax on sugary drinks in the UK to improve our children's health:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/106651
The Petitions Committee referred the petition to the Health Committee, which is looking into this issue as part of its inquiry into childhood obesity. The creator of the petition, Jamie Oliver, gave evidence to the Health Committee on Monday 20 October. After the Health Committee has finished its inquiry, the Petitions Committee will then consider scheduling a debate on this e-petition.
To watch or find out more about the session and inquiry visit :
You can follow both committees on Twitter:
The Health Committee : @CommonsHealth
The Petitions Committee: @HoCpetitions
Debate on the childhood obesity strategy
On Thursday 21 January, MPs debated the childhood obesity strategy. This debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee following a bid from Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, Chair of the Health Select Committee.
You can watch the debate here: http://goo.gl/gNdQxq
You can read the transcript here: https://goo.gl/p3hp5E
You can follow the House of Commons on Twitter: @HouseofCommons
George Osborne announces sugar levy on the soft drinks industry
On Wednesday 16 March the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne MP, announced that the Government would be introducing a sugar levy on the soft drinks industry in 2018.
The Chancellor said that soft drinks manufacturers will be taxed according to the volume of the sugar-sweetened drinks they produce or import. Drinks will fall into two bands: one for total sugar content above 5g per 100ml, and a second, higher band for the most sugary drinks with more than 8g per 100ml.
You can watch the Chancellor's budget statement here: http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/1e13618a-d08e-4423-ab0f-0259a5cd28ad?in=12:33:24
You can read more about the sugar levy here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/508193/HMT_Budget_2016_Web_Accessible.pdf (page 32)
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