Poll: Do you support a sugar tax?
Health officials have been pushing for the measure and now it’s back on the government’s agenda.
A SUGAR TAX is back on the agenda after the measure was included in the recently published programme for government.
Both the Department of Health and medical groups have been pushing for an extra levy on sugar-sweetened drinks to help tackle Ireland’s growing obesity problem, while the new government said the charge would help pay for personal tax cuts.
The UK recently announced a surprise move to introduce a sugar levy on soft drinks to kick in after two years, following the passing of similar measures in several other European countries.
However, soft-drink producers are unsurprisingly set against the plan. Writing for Fora earlier this year, Food and Drink Industry Ireland director Paul Kelly argued the sector had been voluntary reducing the sugar content in products for years.
He also pointed out confectionery and soft drinks were already subject to higher taxes in the form of the standard VAT rate of 23%, from which most foods were exempt.
With all that in mind, we want to know: Do you support a sugar tax?
Have more to say? Tell us in the comments below
