The HSE is insisting that the new tax on sugar-sweetened drinks, which commences on May 1, will help to tackle obesity in Ireland.

Research suggests that sugar-sweetened drinks can contribute to a number of health issues, including weight gain, tooth decay and the development of type 2 diabetes.

According to the HSE, this tax aims to reduce the amount of sugary drinks Irish people are consuming each day, and act as an incentive for the drinks industry to reformulate their products.

"Similar taxes on sugar-sweetened drinks introduced in other countries, such as Mexico, France and Hungary, have demonstrated an impact by reducing the consumption and sales of these drinks.

"Positively, even before Ireland's sugar tax has been fully introduced, it seems to be having an effect, with producers reformulating their products, providing consumers with options that have less added sugar, or offering products in smaller portion sizes," noted the HSE's clinical lead in obesity management, Prof Donal O'Shea.

Currently in Ireland, at least six in 10 adults and one in five children are overweight or obese.

"The introduction of this tax is a definite step in the right direction in our efforts as a country to tackle obesity, which is one of the most serious and preventable health issues in Ireland today.

"We need to use all the tools we have at our disposal to create an environment that supports us all to eat healthily, be more active and achieve and maintain a healthier weight," commented the national lead for the HSE's Healthy Eating Active Living Programme, Sarah O'Brien.

Sugar should contribute less than 10%, but ideally 5%, to our daily energy intake. However, sugar-sweetened drinks contain much more than this. For example, a 330ml can of cola contains 139 calories and 35g of sugar, which is over eight teaspoons.

A litre bottle of cola contains over 400 calories, which is 20% of the daily recommended calorie intake for an inactive adult. To burn off 400 calories requires at least 30 minutes of brisk walking in addition to being active throughout the day.

However, the Irish Beverage Council, the Ibec group that represents soft drinks companies, has said that three-quarters of soft drinks currently sold in Ireland are not liable for the new tax as they are already sugar free.

It said this is due to ‘industry's 35-year journey to reduce sugar content in drinks'. The first sugar-free carbonated drinks were introduced here in 1983 and since the 1990s, the number of sugar-free drinks has increased significantly.

"We accept the Government's sincerity in addressing the complex issue of obesity, and are committed to working on shared solutions that deliver real public health benefits. Some 76% of soft drinks are now sugar free.

"In Ireland,10 billion calories have been removed annually between 2005 and 2012 through voluntary sugar reduction in soft drinks. That is a 10% reduction in seven years. Today, soft drinks represent less than 3% of Ireland's calorific intake," insisted the council's director, Colm Jordan.

There will be a tax of 30c per litre on sweetened drinks with over 8g of sugar per 100ml. There will be a reduced rate of 20c per litre on drinks with between 5-8g of sugar per 100ml.

Meanwhile, for people who are looking to live a healthier lifestyle, the HSE pointed to the START campaign, which was recently launched by it, Healthy Ireland and Safefood. This aims to set families on the path to a healthier future by incorporating small changes in habits, such as adding more vegetables at dinner and swapping sugary drinks for milk and water.

For more information on this campaign, click here