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[1/2] Coca-Cola can list seen in London Britain March 16, 2016 Britain is to introduce a sugar tax on soft drinks to tackle the growing obesity problem, Finance Minister George Osborne has announced in a surprise announcement. On Wednesday, there will be a hike in liquor prices and…
LONDON, June 19 (Reuters) – Britain’s decision to further delay laws banning foods and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar will not help families trying to save money, health campaigners say.
The UK government announced on Saturday that legislation banning multi-buy deals on HFSS food and drink, including buy-one-get-one-free (BOGOF) deals, will be delayed until October 2025.
The instruction was already late. Until October this year. The government will continue to assess the impact of the ban on consumers and businesses.
“I strongly believe that people have a right to choose – and at a time when rising food prices globally continue to put pressure on family budgets, it is unfair for the government to limit the options available to consumers at the weekly shop,” Rishi Sunak said in a statement.
In their second year of living, cost-wracked Britons face food price rises of more than 19 per cent. Official data It shows.
John Maingy, director of policy at the British Heart Foundation, said multi-buy deals meant people were spending more money and eating more junk food.
“The government has spoken out in recent weeks about how important it is to reduce our high obesity rates – but it will not achieve this unless it follows its own evidence and implements its own policies,” he said.
Sarah Clarke, President of the Royal College of Physicians, pointed out that one out of three children who leave primary school is overweight, and that the problem requires not only personal responsibility, but government action.
Kathryn Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said the government’s latest delay will widen health inequalities.
Most major supermarkets including market leader Tesco (TSCO.L) and number 2 Sainsbury’s (SBRY.L)In recent years, they’ve moved away from bulk shopping deals, instead matching discount groups like those at Aldi or Lidl and promotions on loyalty cards, hoping to keep prices low on essential products.
The government says it is committed to cutting hospital waiting lists in the fight against obesity, which costs the National Health Service (NHS) about £6.5 billion ($8.3 billion) a year.
($1 = 0.7803 pounds)
Reporting by James Davey; Edited by Kate Holton and Barbara Lewis
Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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