UK Teens Drink “a Bathtub of Sugary Drinks” Every Year

22 Nov 2016 --- Teenagers aged between 11 and 18 are consuming almost a “full bathtub of sugary drinks a year”, according to new calculations from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey data and Cancer Research UK.

The figures shed more light on the added sugar consumption of UK teenagers and children.

The research also shows that 4 to 10 year olds in the UK are drinking the equivalent of almost half a bathtub full of sugary drinks each year, while adults and young children consume twice the maximum recommended amount of added sugar.

However, 11 to 18 year olds fare worst, eating and drinking three times the recommended limit, with sugary drinks being their main source of added sugar.

With childhood obesity continuing as health epidemic, these new stats further enhance the worrying added sugar consumption habits of young people.

Cancer Research UK state that obese children are around five times more likely to grow into obese adults, and carrying too much weight increases the risk of cancer as well as other diseases.

The charity are in favor of the upcoming sugar tax in the UK, with a recent report by them showing that a 20p per liter sugar tax could prevent 3.7 million cases of obesity over the next decade.

Alison Cox, director of prevention at Cancer Research UK, said: “It’s shocking that teenagers are drinking the equivalent of a bathtub of sugary drinks a year.”

“We urgently need to stop this happening and the good news is that the Government’s sugar tax will play a crucial role in helping to curb this behavior.”

“The ripple effect of a small tax on sugary drinks is enormous, and it will give soft drinks companies a clear incentive to reduce the amount of sugar in drinks.”

“When coupled with the Government’s plan to reduce sugar in processed food, we could really see an improvement to our diets.”

However, while Cox believes the sugar tax will help, she also says more can be done to combat children’s consumption of sugary drinks.

“The Government can do more to give the next generation a better chance, by closing the loop hole on junk food advertising on TV before the 9pm watershed.”

“The UK has an epidemic on its hands, and needs to act now.”