Sugar tax:

Good timing considering the rise in kidney cancer cases

By:
Dr Rebecca Case-Upton BSc (Hons), PhD
Kidney Cancer UK Medical Publications
On Wednesday, March 16, George Osborne announced in his Budget that Britain will join some of the first countries in the world to launch a tax on sugary drinks, a so called Sugar Tax; in a bid to tackle childhood obesity and raise funds – an expected £500 million – to invest in school sport.
He told MPs: “Doing the right thing for the next generation is what this government and this Budget is about.”
The tax will be levied on the drinks companies, not consumers, in two years’ time, giving them the time and the incentive to change the ingredients of their products.  Of course, there is nothing to stop them raising their prices to achieve this.
Nicholas Turkentine, CEO of Kidney Cancer UK, commented: “Given our recent news that kidney cancer numbers are on the rise: showing a jump from the eighth to the seventh most common cancer in the UK and a jump from the seventh to the fifth most common cancer in men, this sugar tax news is welcomed by Kidney Cancer UK.  Although, we also need to bear in mind that sugary drinks are not the only cause of weight increase.”
It is well-known that eating large quantities of sugar can lead to weight gain and obesity, which in turn increases the risk of kidney cancer and many other health conditions:

• Kidney cancer risk among men is 22% higher in those who are overweight (body mass index 25-30) and 63% higher in those who are obese (BMI 30+) *1
• Kidney cancer risk among women is 38% higher in those who are overweight and 95% higher in those who are obese *1
• It is thought that being overweight and obese increases the risk of kidney cancer by raising insulin, oestrogens and growth factors levels and changing cholesterol metabolism or the immune system * 1
• In addition, Wilms Tumour risk is higher in children with a higher birth weight, a meta analysis has shown *1

 But can we be sure that higher costs will lead to fewer people drinking sugary drinks?
Yes, according to evidence from other countries, who have tried a sugar tax. In Mexico, a tax implented on sugar-sweetened drinks led to a six per cent drop in purchases.  A report published by the British Medical Journal *2
detailed that sales of sugar-sweetened drinks dropped in Mexico in 2014, just one year after the implentation of the tax, which could be evidence of a positive impact.
The Government’s official advisory body, Public Health England, welcomed the announcement as “…fabulous news for children and families in helping them to cut back on sugar. This will reduce the risks of obesity, tooth decay and other life-threatening diseases.” *3
Sources

*1 – Cancer Research UK.  http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/kidney-cancer/risk-factors#heading-Three.
Accessed March 2016

*2 – http://www.bmj.com/content/352/bmj.h6704

*3 – -https://www.gov.uk/government/news/levy-on-high-sugar-drinks-phe-statement

http://www.gov.uk/government/news/levy-on-high-sugar-drinks-phe-statement