During these hard-pressed times, perhaps the UKgovernment should take a look at a US tax proposal to put a tax onfizzy drinks.  

A 2009 survey from UCLA Centre forHealth Policy Research found that each American consumes an average of 50gallons of fizzy drink every year. It also revealed that soda is the number onesource of added sugar in the American diet; each day Americans consume 22teaspoons of added sugar, which is 200 to 400% more than the recommendedamount. With obesity levels so high,causing a range of health problems from diabetes to heart disease, manygovernment officials and healthy living campaigners feel that it is time forthe fizzy drinks industry to take a serious look at the effect their products may be having on the nation’s health.

Fizzy drinks, with about 8 teaspoons of sugar per standard can, arewidely held to be one of the main culprits for the obesity epidemic which isbeing experienced worldwide. Even developing countries such as the Philippineshave seen an enormous rise in obesity and related health conditions such astype 2 diabetes and heart disease since such drinks were introduced into theircultures.                                                                                                                                  

But then, what about those fizzy or soft drinks which use artificialsweeteners instead of sugar? The USA wants to tax only those fizzydrinks which are non-diet, but there is also a growing body of evidence tosuggest that the use of artificial sweeteners actually promotes obesity,something which Julie will doubtless be touching on this in next month'sarticle.

And what about fruit juices?  They contain the same amount of sugar(in fructose from) as do soft drinks! 

So what do you reckon?

Should fizzy drinks and cordials betaxed?

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