Chewing gum levy could ‘adversely affect oral health’

DENTAL experts have urged the Government to drop plans to introduce a chewing gum levy amid fears the tax will stop people from chewing sugarless gum to improve their oral health.

Dr Helen Whelton and Prof Denis O’Mullane from the University from the Oral Health Services Research Centre at the University Dental School and Hospital in Cork said a tax on gum was not the way to address the litter problem.

In their submission to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the dental experts in research and public health said more investment should be made in preventing the gum from ending up on the pavements, not in expensive clean-up operations. They also want chewing gum manufacturers to be obliged to pay for education programmes to get people to stop dropping gum on the streets.