Noonan rejects tax on sugary food and drinks

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has shot down plans for a potential 20% sugary drinks and food tax despite Health Minister Leo Varadkar calling for the policy to be imposed as part of a “suite of measures” to tackle Ireland’s obesity crisis.

The plan will not be included in next week’s budget due to difficulties over what products would and would not be targeted and fears it could create a sugary food and drinks black market in the same way as measures to address smoking habits created one for cigarettes.

At the Government’s Healthy Ireland report launch yesterday, Mr Varadkar said while the tax is not the silver bullet needed to combat rising obesity and diabetes levels, he believes it is needed as part of a “suite of measures” to address the health crisis.