The United Kingdom’s sugar tax has proven to be a significant public health intervention, leading to a nearly 50% reduction in children’s added sugar intake from sodas and other soft drinks, according to new research.
Introduction of the Sugar Tax
In March 2016, the UK government announced a tax on soft drinks containing added sugar as part of its strategy to combat childhood obesity. This tax, implemented in April 2018, incentivized soft drink manufacturers to reduce the sugar content in their products before the tax took effect.
Significant Reductions in Sugar Intake
Research conducted by the University of Cambridge and other leading British universities examined data spanning 11 years to understand trends in sugar consumption. The findings revealed that children’s added sugar intake from soft drinks dropped by 45% after the tax announcement and implementation compared to previous years. Among adults, the study observed a 33% reduction in added sugar intake.
Broader Implications of the Study
Published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, the study indicates that, when accounting for the existing decline in sugar consumption, the sugar tax led to a 23.5% relative decrease in added sugar intake from soft drinks among children and a 40.4% relative decrease among adults.
Dr. Peymané Adab, a professor of chronic disease epidemiology and public health at the University of Birmingham, emphasized the significance of these findings, stating, "It all just reinforces that the policy is having an impact." However, she also noted that these are relatively short-term impacts and that long-term trends might differ.
Factors Contributing to Sugar Reduction
The study highlights that the decrease in sugar consumption could result from multiple factors, including manufacturers reducing added sugars, increased preference for low-calorie artificial sweeteners, and effective public health messaging that influenced purchasing decisions. Importantly, despite the tax not applying to high-sugar drinks like fruit juices and milk-based beverages, there was no significant substitution with other sugary products.
Ongoing Challenges and Recommendations
Despite these positive outcomes, researchers stress that overall added sugar intake remains too high. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends limiting sugar consumption to less than 5% of daily energy intake for maximum health benefits, but in 2019, British children were still deriving 9.9% of their energy from added sugars in food and drinks.
The Global Context and Future Steps
As of now, at least 54 countries have implemented taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, recognizing their role in increasing the risk of obesity and related health issues such as type 2 diabetes, stroke, arthritis, and certain cancers. In the UK, about a quarter of 10 and 11-year-olds are obese, a figure that surged during the COVID-19 pandemic before slightly decreasing.
To effectively tackle childhood obesity, a multi-sector approach is needed. This could include public awareness campaigns, healthy eating initiatives in schools, advertising restrictions, and continued reformulation of sugary products. Dr. Adab notes, "Not one of them is going to be the single silver bullet. Taxation has had some impact, but without other things around to support, it's unlikely on its own to achieve a reduction in obesity."
The UK sugar tax has shown substantial success in reducing added sugar intake from soft drinks, particularly among children. While the findings are promising, they also highlight the need for comprehensive strategies to further reduce sugar consumption and address childhood obesity effectively.
By maintaining a multifaceted approach, policymakers can continue to build on the success of the sugar tax, promoting healthier lifestyles and better public health outcomes for future generations.
Source: Euronews
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