Lizz Truss Preparing To Reverse Sugar Tax On Soft Drinks

Barely two weeks into her role as prime minister Lizz Truss is preparing to roll back the UK’s infamous sugar tax.

New Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has ordered a review of measures already in force, as well as policies set to be brought in next month.

According to the Times, a raft of anti-obesity measures face the chopping block as the government move to help ease the cost-of-living crisis gripping the country.

The ban on bogof or “buy one, get one free” promotions on unhealthy food, which was delayed by the government earlier this year is now unlikely to go ahead.

A ban on sweets and chocolates on display at the checkout which was due to take effect next month is also in doubt.

Before becoming PM Truss was already a detractor of the governments anti-obesity polcies saying that, “(People) don’t want the government telling them what to eat,” in an interview in August.

Anti-obesity campaigners have warned the “deeply concerning” review would be “reckless” and a waste of time and money.

“There is no evidence the SDIL is hampering the soft drinks industry, whilst it has removed over 48 million kgs of sugar from drinks since 2015,” said Barbara Crowther, director of the Children’s Food Campaign.

“And the independent impact study found this was associated with a 30g per week per household reduction in sugar consumption. Threatening to reverse it now would be a total mistake and an own-goal, which would only create more chaos in a food and drink sector that does not need it.”