Response to industry campaign against the soft drinks industry levy – Statement

 The soft drinks industry levy will save money tomorrow by helping to tackle children’s obesity today. Sugary soft drinks have no nutritional value and are the single biggest contributor to a child’s sugar intake, and high consumption of sugar  is one of the factors fuelling the obesity crisis. A third of children are overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school, putting them at a greater risk of serious health conditions later in life such as Type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart and liver disease and associated mental health problems. These conditions place an immense toll on our nation’s health and our already-stretched health service. The levy has huge potential help tackle obesity and save the NHS money.