The British Medical Association (BMA) is reported to have said that the Government should introduce an extra 20% tax on sugary drinks in order to tackle the obesity crisis which is taking a grip on people. It has estimated that poor diets are causing around 70,000 premature deaths each year. In a major report on unhealthy diets, the BMA says that the extra money which would be raised by the imposing of the tax could be used to subsidise fresh fruit and vegetables. The damaging impact of sugar on people’s health especially type 2 diabetes and obesity is becoming a cause of great concern. It is reported that one regular size (330 ml) can of a soft drink contains as much as 9 teaspoons of sugar and hence we should cut down or totally avoid sugar loaded soft drinks.
But are sugary drinks alone the culprits? Diabetes is more prevalent in us South East Asians. We consume more sugar in our ladoos and jalebis than your cokes and lemonades! We also consume more fat in our samosas and kachoris than others use in buttering their breads. We are so used to the taste of sugar that it has become an addiction and we want more and more of it. Hence taxing on sugary drinks may be a waste of time. We need to educate people to slowly cut down. For people with a sweet tooth, diet drinks containing sweetners may be an alternative.
Dinesh Sheth
Newbury Park, Ilford
