January 11, 2016
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A sugar tax of 50% is needed to drastically change drinking and eating habits, obesity experts have said, according to the UK's Independent newspaper.
Health professionals on the National Obesity Forum said the 20% rate recommended by Public Health England would be an "insufficient" deterrent for buying sugary drinks.
It means buying a 330ml bottle of coke from a supermarket would rise from GBP0.99 (US$1.44) to GBP1.49.
The advice comes as David Cameron hinted last week that the Government could soon introduce a levy on fizzy drinks this year after promising a "fully worked-up programme" for tackling soaring obesity rates in the UK.
Professor David Haslam, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: "Anything less than a 50% tax on sugary drinks will be insufficient as a disincentive to consumers.
"We don't currently support taxing food products... but sugary drinks have no place in anyone's diet."
Cameron said the consumption of sugary drinks were also contributing to heart disease, cancer and having a detrimental effect on NHS finances.