FOLLOWING the introduction of the UK's Soft Drinks Industry Levy, also known as the sugar tax, daily sugar intake fell by about 5g in children and 11g in adults within a year, according to a study in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
The research, analysing 11 years of survey data, highlights the levy's effectiveness in reducing sugar consumption.
The study showed that over half of the reduction in sugar intake came from soft drinks.
Despite this progress, overall daily sugar intake still exceeds the World Health Organization's recommended levels of 5% of total energy intake.
Researchers noted that sugar-sweetened beverages significantly contribute to health risks like weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
Post-levy, sugar intake from soft drinks halved in children and dropped by a third in adults.
The findings indicate that the sugar tax successfully lowered its consumption without prompting significant dietary substitutions.
This underscores the potential impact of public health policies on improving dietary habits and reducing sugar intake.
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