New analysis by the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Science researchers suggests the government has missed a key opportunity to maximise the health benefits of the UK soft drinks tax, particularly as latest NHS data shows childhood obesity inequalities are widening rather than narrowing.
The analysis, published in The BMJ today, finds that introducing a higher tax rate for drinks containing 10g or more sugar per 100ml could remove twice as much sugar from the market compared to the government's current proposals.
The research, led by Dr Lauren Bandy and Professor Peter Scarborough, comes as recent NHS data shows that children from the most deprived areas are now twice as likely to be obese as those from the least deprived areas – a gap that has widened since 2009.
Critical timing as budget decision looms
The analysis arrives as the government prepares to announce final decisions on the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) at the Autumn Budget 2025, following a review and public consultation that closed in July.
The SDIL currently taxes drinks at different rates depending on sugar content, with the highest rate applying to drinks over 8g per 100ml. While the government is proposing to lower the tax threshold from 5g to 4g of sugar per 100ml and extend the tax to include sweetened milk drinks, earlier plans for a higher tax rate on the most sugary products have been dropped. The consultation document notes this decision followed "discussions with stakeholders."
Read the full story on the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences website.