Food taxes: letter to The Times
Labour’s sugar tax
Sir, You report that Labour is considering taxes on sugar or salt “once the cost of living crisis eases” (Labour divided on sugar tax as voters struggle with bills, July 29). Labour can do three things to ensure these food taxes would be effective.
First, look internationally at what has succeeded and what has failed. While taxes in Mexico and Hungary resulted in reduced consumption of unhealthy food, Denmark’s tax on saturated fat was abolished after 15 months due to poor policy design.
Second, be clear on metrics. Would the success of a sugar or salt tax be measured in lost waistline inches, decreased average weight, number of consumed calories, hospital admissions or financial savings to the NHS?
Third, be upfront on how tax revenue would be spent. Would taxes on sugar or salt be invested in promoting exercise, subsidising fruit and vegetables, providing healthy meals, or added to the general tax pot?
If Sir Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting are clear on these matters, a potential tax on sugar or salt would probably have wide public acceptance rather than be viewed as a policy imposed by “meddling do-gooders”.
