Health experts say it’s time to tax sugar as research reveals children who drink soft drinks have tooth decay, weight problems

Experts are making renewed calls for a tax on sugar as new data shows some children are drinking two or more sugary drinks every day.

Health experts have renewed calls for a sugar tax as new data shows 15 per cent of young children are drinking two or more sugary drinks a day.

A University of Queensland study of more than 7000 Australian children aged five to eight found regular consumers of sugary drinks were 1.5 times more likely to have weight problems and tooth decay.

Thirty-five per cent had dental caries and 28 per cent were overweight or obese, while other research showed children as young as nine months had sugar added to their food or drink.

Study co-author Professor Loc Do said “public health policy and advocacy initiatives such as a sugar tax and banning junk food advertisements should be prioritised” to reduce consumption of sweet drinks which include soft drinks, juices, energy drinks, cordial, and coffee and tea with sugar.

“The more the children consumed sugar-sweetened beverages in a usual day, the more likelihood of experiencing dental caries and overweight and obesity,” Professor Do said.

He said the strategies were needed to help support parents to minimise sweet drink intake because “it is possible that many parents do not realise the hidden sugars in other commercial drinks”.

More than 40 per cent of babies start drinking sweet drinks before they turn one, with almost half of children aged two to 17 drinking at least one every day, other findings show.

Lobby group Parents’ Voice has been pushing for action on the marketing of unhealthy food and drink.

Liliana, 10, is shocked at the amount of sugar in a can of soft drink. Picture: Michael Klein

Campaigns manager Lauren Bais said Australian children were being “bombarded by more than 25 unhealthy food and drink ads a day”.

“The message is clear – self-regulation isn’t working. We need mandatory intervention from government, and we need it now,” she said.

The Australian Medical Association has also backed calls for a 20 per cent tax on sugar-filled drinks. The AMA estimate it would cut consumption and raise $800m annually to be spent on preventive measures.

The move has been ruled out by the federal government for driving up the price of household goods.