Introducing a Sugar Tax, Morally Justifiable? A Debate on the Introduction of the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy

Abstract

Obesity is increasing throughout the world's population and has been associated with a number of diseases, from cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke to cancer and respiratory diseases [1, 2]. In the United Kingdom, an astonishing 62% of the population was classified as obese or overweight in 2015 [3]. Complications of obesity have resulted in high rates of morbidity and mortality. The announcement last year that the UK government is to impose a tax on sugar is an attempt to tackle this problem; therefore, it is a timely moment to discuss the justifications and ramifications of this, from a moral point of view. This essay will analyse whether obesity can be considered a public health matter and discuss the ethical challenges and criticisms that paternalistic interventions, designed to combat this epidemic may encounter, focusing on the sugar tax.