A new study published in Public Health Nutrition examines the potential effects of Brexit on the ‘Sugar Tax’ and coronary heart disease (CHD) in England.

The ‘Sugar Tax’, an industry levy on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), was implemented in the UK in April 2018 as part of the UK Government’s Childhood Obesity Plan. However, the effect of the SSB levy might be affected by the impending exit of the UK from the European Union (EU) in March 2019, known as Brexit.

Brexit is likely to result in a new trade regime, which could range from a free trade regime that eliminates all trade barriers to a default World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership that enforces tariffs to all trade relationships.

The trade arrangements that the UK will adopt after Brexit are likely to influence the price of food and food ingredients including sugar, which currently follows European regulations under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This could potentially interfere with the effectiveness of the SSB levy in the UK.

Read more at University of Liverpool

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