Sugar tax targets obesity: Your views
In Mexico, a 10% tax on sugar-sweetened drinks led to a 6% reduction in sales.
And now the Commons Health Select Committee says a similar policy in England would help to cut sugar consumption at least in the short term. The government has consistently been opposed to introducing such a tax, and the drinks industry say poorest families will be hit the hardest. But Tory MP Dr Sarah Wollaston, who chairs the cross-party committee, says it could cut rates of child obesity. Currently, one in three primary school leavers are overweight or obese. In October, Public Health England recommended: On social media, there has been overwhelming criticism of the idea. And this is reflected in emails received by the BBC. Helen Attwood said: "I have had type-1 diabetes for 36 years. "Type 1 is not linked to lifestyle choices and is an autoimmune disease. "I have to buy sugar regularly, and sugary drinks in particular are great at treating hypo[glycemia]s - one of the issues associated with this disease. "It doesn't seem fair that I have to pay more to treat a medical condition which I ended up with through no fault of my own. " But there was also some cautious support for the proposed sugar tax. One anonymous emailer to the BBC said: "I agree something must be done. "The school attended by my grandchildren has machines selling cans of fizzy drinks, crisps et cetera. "It would be a good start if that stopped. "The answer is not just banning things, it is educating young people. "The more you ban them, the more they will want them."