The Sugar Tax

Posted by Crown House Dental on 16th April 2018

What you need to know....

Fizzy drinks have long been the enemy of teeth, but they are also a problem when it comes to obesity. High sugar drinks are bad news for health all round, and with obesity levels are rising, the government has decided to do something about it, i.e the sugar tax. Jamie Oliver started it all with a campaign a few years ago, and the government has taken the idea on and decided to implement it.

Here at your Egham dentist we don't know if it will help decrease tooth decay and obesity levels or not, but we certainly hope it does. In the meantime, it is a good idea to know all about it so you can understand exactly how it affects you.

What Is The Sugar Tax?

The sugar tax was announced in the budget last year by Philip Hammond giving companies a year to change recipes or prepare their finances ready for the change. The idea behind it is that companies either reduce sugar in their drinks to make them less unhealthy, or they have to charge customers more money, affecting their sales because hopefully customers will be less likely to buy the products due to cost. There are two grades of taxation depending on how much sugar is in the drink. The first level of tax applies to drinks with over 5 grams of sugar per 100ml, the second level of tax applies to drinks with over 8 grams of sugar per 100ml. The second level of tax is higher than the first.

Where Will The Money Made From The Sugar Tax Go?

The money will be sent to The Department Of Education in an effort to boost the education of young people in the UK, those most heavily affected by the obesity crisis. The tax is thought to be worth over £500 million pounds a year.

When Does The Sugar Tax Come Into Force?

The Sugar Tax has already come into force and began officially on the 6th of April (2018) although there were attempts to stop it coming into force.

How Will It Affect Fizzy Drinks & How Much They Cost?

Any pure fruit juices and sugar free soft drinks will not be targeted by the current sugar tax. Companies have already been seen putting heavier advertising budgets into their diet drink options.

As for sugary drinks, a standard can of Coke or Sprite will cost 6-8p more and a large bottle will cost between 20p and 30p more.

Will The Sugar Tax Work?

Here at your Egham dentist, we really hope that the sugar tax helps in some way to work against the obesity epidemic, and the amount of young people suffering from extractions prematurely, because of rotten teeth. However, there's a lot you can do to help avoid the effects of sugar on your family:

  • Keep up with checkups at your Egham dentist
  • Avoid sugary drinks and sweets
  • Look out for hidden sugar in products you consume
  • Maintain a good oral health regime, which won't be able to balance the effects of a poor diet, but it will help

The sugar tax is something we will all have to wait to see if it works. In the meantime, stay informed and make the best possible choices for your health!

Blog Home
Book Appointment

Archives

Categories

Find....

Your Family Dentist in Egham, Surrey

homeenvelopephonemap-markerchevron-down linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram