Hadley hopes to sweet talk States with sugar drinks tax
A SUGARY drinks tax could be brought before the States in the 2017 budget, if Deputy Mike Hadley has his way.
The Healthy Weight Strategy – due to be debated in the States this week – proposes that an investigation is carried into the tax, but sets no deadlines.
Deputy Hadley, a member of the Health and Social Services board that drew up the strategy, wants to ensure that the proposal is acted upon so will place an amendment to the report, seconded by Deputy Paul Le Pelley.
A ring-fenced sum of £250,000 would also be provided to fund the strategy, which would run until 2023.
This is what would have been the yearly level of the last strategy, he said, which was in place between 2009 and 2015 – however, its funding was slashed to just over £145,000 across the six-year period.
With the dangers of obesity well known, Deputy Hadley said, such a sum of money would undoubtedly save the island cash in the future.
Plus, if the sugary drinks tax was implemented, that money would easily be raised, he said.
