22 December 2011
BSDA rejects calls for a tax on soft drinks
A tax on soft drinks is not the way to fight obesity. The
cause of obesity is an excess of calories in the diet over calories
expended in exercise, and not the overall amount of calories
consumed, still less the calories from any individual source.
In particular, while the incidence of overweight and obesity has
increased in recent years, the paper notes that “energy from
beverages has not shifted markedly overall during the past decade
in Britain”.
A tax on soft drinks would also be intrusive. Many people
enjoy soft drinks within a balanced diet: those people should not
be targeted for additional taxes.
In addition, a tax on soft drinks would be regressive, falling
more heavily on poorer consumers.
A tax on soft drinks would be ineffective, intrusive and
unfair. Balanced diets and active lifestyles can only be
achieved through information and education and not regulation or
compulsion.
The soft drinks industry provides nutritional information on
pack, including GDA information in a signpost format. Diet,
low calorie and no added sugar drinks now make up 62 per cent of
the market, up from around 30 per cent 20 years ago.
Ends
For further information please contact
Richard Laming
Media Director
British Soft Drinks Association
Tel: 020 7025 3707 / 07879 654555
Email: rlaming@britishsoftdrinks.com
Website: http://www.britishsoftdrinks.com/
Notes to editors
1. The British Soft Drinks Association
represents the interests of producers and manufacturers of soft
drinks including carbonated drinks, still and dilutable drinks,
fruit juices and bottled water. BSDA members are responsible for
the vast majority of products on the British soft drinks
market.