Obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are well-documented risks linked to sugary drinks. Yet new data from Cancer Research UK shows British youth undeterred: teens aged 11-18 average 234 cans of soda annually—the volume of an entire tub.
Based on national survey data, Cancer Research UK reports this intake triples the recommended daily added sugar limit. Younger children fare little better: ages 4-10 average 110 cans yearly, while toddlers aged 18 months to 3 years consume around 70. These patterns raise serious public health concerns.
To combat this, Cancer Research UK urges a "soda tax"—a 20p levy per liter of sugary drinks—projected to avert 3.7 million obesity cases over the next decade. A policy worth considering globally.
