Tomorrow (April 6) sees the introduction of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (sugar tax) which comes into force across the country affecting drinks which contain added sugar. 

The levy applies to manufacturers and importers of sugar-added soft drinks and varies depending on the amount of sugar they contain. If the drink has 5g of sugar or more per 100ml, a levy of 18p per litre will apply and 24p per litre if the drink has 8g of sugar or more per 100ml. Some drink producers have already lowered the sugar content in their products to avoid the levy. 

Cornwall Council has welcomed the move as a positive step in helping tackle obesity levels, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay. 

Some of the funds raised by central government will be used to increase sports funding for primary and secondary schools. It can be used for breakfast clubs so that children can have the best start to the day, purchasing sports equipment or providing water drinking fountains. 

In Cornwall around 27% of children aged 4-5 are identified as overweight, increasing throughout the primary school years to around 30% by age 10-11. In adults over 18, that figure jumps to 59%. 

Tooth decay is a growing issue with 22% of children over the age of 5 having at least one tooth which is missing, filled or decayed. In 2015-2016 around 400 children under the age of 16 had tooth extractions under general anaesthetic in Cornwall because of poor oral health.

Cornwall Council has a number initiatives in place to support people to achieve a healthy weight and prevent tooth decay including lifestyle programmes for children and adults.