Top chef calls for Scottish sugary drinks tax

A chef at Scotland’s only two Michelin star restaurant has called on the Scottish Government to introduce a tax on sugary drinks north of the border.

Andrew Fairlie, who runs an acclaimed restaurant in Gleneagles, has lent his name to a campaign to introduce a tax on sugary drinks, which has been supported at a UK level by TV chef Jamie Oliver as well as the British Medical Association, UNISON and several medical professional organisations.

“You have to ask yourself why you wouldn’t apply a tax to a product that is causing such major health problems to our children,” said Fairlie.

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“It would be criminal not to. It’s time to take action and the evidence is overwhelming that a sugar drinks tax for Scotland is an idea whose time has come.”

Fairlie is due to speak at an event in Edinburgh next week held by sustainable food consultancy SOURCE.

SOURCE director Mike Small said there is “an overwhelming case” for a sugary drinks tax in Scotland.

“With government spending on health and education under immense pressure, a tax on the corporates exploiting cheap sugar could raise new revenue for a healthier, happier Scotland.

“Children in the UK consume three times more sugar than is recommended, and soft drinks are by far the biggest source, accounting for 29 per cent of the sugar intake of 11 to 18-year-olds and 16 per cent for younger children. There’s something we can do about this, right now, if we have the political will.”

David Cameron refused to rule out the possibility of a similar tax in England last week after a study pointed to a 10 per cent levy in Mexico reducing sales of sugary drinks by 12 per cent in a year.