Malcolm Clark, coordinator of the Sustain Children’s Food Campaign, said: “It seems absurd that the government is prematurely ruling out a potent part of its arsenal for reducing excessive sugar consumption.
“If the government is serious about tackling childhood obesity and diet-related ill health, then a sugary drinks duty must be one of the options that is on the table for consideration.
“The evidence is there on the benefits particularly to children’s health, along with the impact that the money raised could have if put into programmes to improve children’s health and protect the environment they grow up in.
“The public support this too, as shown through the online petition to government, which had over 100,000 signatures within 48 hours, and continues to gather more.
“There is real public appetite for robust measures that will make a difference, rather than a rehash of the failed Responsibility Deal, which has not.”
A Department of Health statement said the government has no plans to introduce a tax on sugar sweetened beverages, but is considering a range of options for tackling childhood obesity.
Read the full statement here.