~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~48~RS~)
Fizzy drinks as bad as cigarettes, says doctors' group
Page last updated at 14:50 GMT, Monday, 18 February 2013
- E-mail this to a friend [an error occurred while processing this directive]
Kelly and George have been debating possible taxes on fizzy drinks
A group representing most of the UK's doctors say sugared fizzy drinks are as big a health problem as cigarettes.
The group wants higher taxes on cans and bottles of pop, to make people choose healthier alternatives like water or juice.
In Peterborough city centre, two friends have been debating the issue.
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges proposals
Continue reading the main story- Extra taxes to put people off buying fizzy drinks
- Junk food adverts to be banned before 9pm
- Fast food outlets near schools and leisure centres to be closed
- Money set aside for weight loss surgery
Self-confessed "sugar addict" Kelly Stockwell, 17, says she'd never give up fizzy drinks.
"If fizzy drinks were that bad they wouldn't make them," she said.
Her friend, 20-year-old friend George Davey, says he feels healthier, and sleeps better, since he cut back.
"I realised how bad I felt in the morning," he said. "Over a period of time it just made me feel terrible."
Cardiologist Doctor Aseem Malhotra helped put the report together for the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.
He says some cans of fizzy drink contain up to nine teaspoons of sugar.
He said: "They drive weight gain by interfering with hormones that are thought to control appetite. They lead to type two diabetes."
"Maybe," said Kelly. "But I can't not have sugar. I love sugar."
Have your say on fizzy drink plans on Facebook
Junk foodThe doctors propose a 20% tax, to make people choose healthier alternatives like water or juices.
But Kelly said: "If someone wants a fizzy drink, they're going to buy it no matter what the price is."
Kelly StockwellI eat junk food every day. I've been skinny my whole life and I eat like a horse
The group also wants adverts for what they see as bad food and drink banned before 9pm, and especially at times when children are watching TV.
The government says it's focused on working with the food industry to make products healthier.
Drinks makers themselves say fizzy pop makes up "just 2%" of an average person's total calories.
George said: "Just don't drink them every day. Maybe one fizzy drink a week or something. It's the same with things like crisps."
Kelly is not convinced though. She said: "I eat junk food every day.
"I've been skinny my whole life and I eat like a horse."
- E-mail this to a friend [an error occurred while processing this directive]
Print Sponsor
On Newsbeat today
Top stories
-
Gates open for Radio 1's Big Weekend
Music fans begin the celebrations at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Londonderry.
-
Heathrow causes Big Weekend delays
Runway closures cause delays for artists and Radio 1 and 1Xtra DJs flying to the Northern Ireland festival site.
-
Newsbeat guide to... Unmanned drones
US President Barack Obama has defended the use of unmanned drones but what are they and how are they used?
-
Police confident about Big Weekend
Officers in Londonderry admit the Radio 1 event is their biggest police operation this year.
-
Daft Punk have fastest-selling album
The French duo's fourth studio record, Random Access Memories, is the fastest-selling album of the year so far.
See also
-
New York wants fizzy drink ban
02 June 11Health
-
Pubs to offer drinks for drivers
01 December 10Health
Most popular stories now
shared
-
Dog years: The calculator
-
RAF jets scrambled after incident
-
Englishisms in France: Readers' franglais favourites
-
Plane 'fire' closes Heathrow runway
-
Preacher refuses to 'abhor' attack
read
-
RAF jets scrambled after incident
-
Wife expected soldier 'to be safe'
-
Plane 'fire' closes Heathrow runway
-
BBC abandons £100m digital project
-
Footballers cleared of sex assault
-
Benefit fraud talent show mum jailed
-
What do radical Islamists actually believe in?
-
Dog years: The calculator
-
Bercow's McAlpine tweet libellous
-
Woolwich aftermath
