UK sugar tax extended to milkshakes to combat obesity

The UK on Tuesday announced an extension of a Soft Drinks Industry Levy, so-called sugar tax, to more pre-packaged milk-based products such as milkshakes as part of an ongoing anti-obesity focus. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said milk-based drinks with added sugar like supermarket milkshakes, flavoured milks, sweetened yoghurt drinks, chocolate milk drinks, and ready-to-drink coffees can contain as much added sugar as fizzy drinks. Companies will have until January 2028 to remove the added sugar or face the new charge, which is said to reportedly add 1 billion pounds in health and economic benefits. “The levy has already shown that when industry cuts sugar levels, children’s health improves. So, we’re going further," said Wes Streeting, UK Health Secretary.

‘Obesity robs children of the best possible start in life’

Health Secretary Wes Streeting confirms sugar tax on pre-packaged milkshakes ahead of Budget pic.twitter.com/fHPK0DETsY

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Companies will have until January 2028 to remove the added sugar or face the new charge, which is said to reportedly add 1 billion pounds in health and economic benefits.The DHSC said that obesity is one of the root causes of diabetes, heart disease and cancer and the UK now has the third highest rate of adult obesity in Europe, costing the NHS 11.4 billion pounds a year.The levy is among a set of measures it claims are targeted at tackling the obesity crisis to prevent “hundreds of thousands of people becoming obese, helping to prevent cancer, heart disease, and stroke”.