Britain's levy on sugary drinks welcomed by Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland has welcomed the announcement of plans to introduce a new £520m (€660m) levy on sugary drinks in Britain within two years.

Chair of the college’s policy group on obesity, Prof Donal O’Shea, called on the new government to follow suit to protect children.

“This is a very important step in tackling obesity,” he said. “I am encouraged by the commitment of the four main political parties to introducing a sugar tax in their recent election manifestos. It can’t come a moment too soon as we continue to battle high rates of obesity in Ireland. One in four children in Ireland is overweight or obese.”