Stacking up: current sugar consumption levels are far exceeding recommendations
Rhiane Kirkby investigates the implications of the government’s new ‘sugar tax’ 
It was the surprise announcement in the Chancellor?s budget ? a sugar tax to be imposed on soft drinks. The aim" To tackle childhood obesity by raising an estimated £520 million a year and spending that ? in England, at least ? on funding sport in primary schools.
George Osborne?s announcement came as a ?bolt from the blue? say commentators and even Jamie Oliver, who had been campaigning tirelessly for

it for over a year, said he was ?especially shocked?.
The sugar tax is aimed at high-sugar drinks, particularly fizzy drinks, which are popular amongst children. It won?t apply to pure fruit juices or milk-based beverages. Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Irn-Bru, which have more than eight grams of sugar per 100ml, are just some of the drinks which will be taxed at the higher rate of around 24p litre, while brands such as Fanta, Sprite and Dr Pepper, which have more than five grams of sugar per 100ml, will pay around 18p. The tax won?t, however, come into effect until 2018 to give the drinks industry time to reformulate its recipes. Drinks have been targeted because a typical can contains enough sugar to take someone over their recommended daily intake in one hit. They?re regarded as ?empty calories? as they have no nutritional benefit and companies are seen to target their high-calorie products at the...