The Irish Dental Association will discuss the possibility of a sugar tax being introduced in Ireland at their annual conference in Galway.
In the UK, British Chancellor George Osborne recently announced plans to introduce a sugar tax on producers of sugar-added soft drinks over the next two years.
However, the Irish Dental Association has stated that the focus should be on encouraging people to reduce the volume and frequency of sugar they consume and not on how much they pay for it.
However, dietician Orla Walsh says that a tax may act as a deterrent and is a step in the right direction.
“High sugar consumption isn’t good for health, both in the short and long term,” she said. “It will negatively affect our energy levels, but in the long term, it will put us at risk of most conditions and diseases, as well as affect the health of our teeth. Children are suffering tooth decay at the moment, which is preventable: children may be instructed to only drinking milk and water as opposed to fruit juices, sports drinks and fizzy drinks.”
