Deposits return program could "seriously impede" efforts to fight obesity

Scotland's flat-rate return program for cans and bottles could "seriously hinder" efforts to fight childhood obesity, public health experts warned.

Setting a fixed rate of 20 pence for all containers, regardless of size, could encourage more people to buy larger bottles of sweetened beverages, they said.

The group, which includes prominent figures from Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities, as well as the London School of Economics, argued instead that there should be a graduated charge under the deposit refund system, this increase being proportional to the size of the beverage container.

Scotland is the first part of the UK to announce plans to introduce a deposit refund system to boost recycling.

According to the proposals to be presented before the end of the current parliament in March 2021, a 20p tax will be levied on the vast majority of beverage containers, including PET plastic bottles – used for soft drinks and bottling bottles. water – glbad bottles and steel / aluminum drinks cans.

But health experts worry that this will curb efforts to reduce levels of obesity and combat diabetes.

Shona Hilton, Professor of Public Health Policy at the University of Glasgow, Professor Alec Morton, founding member of the Center for Health Policy of the University of Strathclyde and Dr. Simon Hunter of the same institution, expressed their concerns along with Dr. Joan Costa-i-Font and Professor Alistair McGuire, both of the Department of Health Policy at the London School of Economics.

In a letter to The Herald newspaper, they said the Scottish Government had set "ambitious plans to halve child obesity by 2030", as Holyrood ministers also risked cutting back on advertising for fatty and sugary foods.

They noted that the 20-peso fee in the deposit deposit system would apply to beverage containers "regardless of size – from 330 ml lemonade to 750 ml sparkling juice bottles and containers. cola of two liters ".

Experts warned: "For smaller portions of less than half a liter, a 20p deposit represents a huge percentage increase in the price charged to the consumer.

"For large containers, the increase is less important.

"A lump sum surety may therefore encourage consumers to buy larger containers of sweetened beverages.

"This could severely hamper the Scottish Government's efforts to achieve its obesity goals in children."

They added, "If we want to make significant progress in the fight against obesity and diabetes, we need a deposit refund system that takes into account the realities of public health in Scotland today. 39; hui.

"It means a graduated deposit that increases proportionally to the size of the container."

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: "The fight against obesity is a priority for the Scottish Government and last year we published a detailed plan that defines a wide range of actions. to help people eat well and have a healthy weight.

"This includes our ambition to halve child obesity by 2030, our £ 42 million investment in weight management services and proposals to restrict in-store promotion and marketing. foods high in fat, sugar or salt with little or no nutritional benefits.

"We have been the first part of the UK to commit to an ambitious and large scale deposit reimbursement scheme, which gives Scots a clear and direct way to act in favor of the environment. . "