Food and farming organisation Sustain wants the Government to introduce a duty to fund projects to improve children's health. Do you agree with its ideas?
Over 60 organisations are backing a call for a duty on sugary drinks which could then provide money to improve children’s health.
A report by food and farming organisation Sustain calls for the duty to be introduced in this year’s Budget.
It says a duty adding an extra 20p per litre would raise around £1 billion a year. That money could then be used to fund initiatives such as free school meals or sustainably-produced fruit and vegetable snacks in schools.
It also wants an independent body to oversee the duty and make sure the money it raises is spent effectively.
The organisations supporting this idea include the Royal Society for Public Health, the National Heart Forum and Friends of the Earth.
The report says diet-related illness is costing the NHS around £6 billion a year.
What do you think?
But should there be a blanket increase in the cost of these types of drinks? Does this penalise people who enjoy them as something of a guilty pleasure, much like the occasional glass of wine? Vote in our poll below and tell us your thoughts in the Comments box.
The Government approach
The Department of Health introduced a voluntary calorie reduction pledge last year as part of its Responsibility Deal for food and drink manufacturers and retailers. But the Government has so far resisted forcing change via new laws.
And a Department of Health spokesperson told the BBC: “We believe the voluntary action we have put in place is delivering results.”
AG Barr, Asda, Britvic, Coca-Cola, Mars, Subway and Tesco are among the companies who have signed up to the pledge so far.
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