Proposed sugar tax is needed more than ever, says Cancer Research UK

The charity, cancer Research UK, looked at data from 2015 and found children of all ages were drinking far too many fizzy drinks. These drinks are an extra source of added sugar for teenager's diets. Too much sugar can lead to obesity and other possibly Health problems.

Why should we stop drinking fizzy drinks?

• It can increase our chance of getting cancer. Research has shown there is correlated data between how many fizzy drinks we consume and various types of cancer. Obviously the more you drink them the more likely you are to get cancer. This is mainly due to the chemicals used in both full-fat and diet versions of the fizzy drinks.
• As well as cancer there is a link to the added amounts of sugar affecting our likelihood of having heart disease. Researchers in America found that drinking three cans a day can triple your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
• Another disease you are more likely to experience is Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is related to our health and diet. If we think about what goes into our bodies we can help lower the amount of new cases of Type 2 diabetes.
• Fizzy drinks also effect our liver and its function. An increase in sugar can cause liver disease which, over time if not treated, can lead to liver damage.
• Researchers have also found that teenagers are more likely to be violent towards their friends if they drink as little as two cans a week. Increasing that number of cans a week to five or more can cause teenagers to drink alcohol or smoke more often.
• Women who drank sweetened soft drinks, whether they were fizzy or not, while pregnant were more likely to give birth prematurely. This is because the chemicals changed the woman's womb inside of her. The main risks with having a baby born prematurely, are that the baby will suffer from brain problems, breathing problems, temperature control problems and they tend to be of a low birth weight.
• Drinking fizzy drinks often can also change protein levels in the brain, this can cause hyperactivity.
• The obvious risk with any fizzy drink is that they will make you put on weight. Excess sugar that the body doesn't need will be turned into fat. Even those who had the diet versions of fizzy drinks saw their weight increase by three times.

What will this sugar tax mean?

Cancer Research UK thinks there should be a 20p per litre sugar tax. They believe this will decrease the amount of obesity and cancer among teenagers and young children.