It's a dumb idea and we in the U.S. have already demonstrated how it will work out. Our artificial government price supports on sugar have simply caused prepared-food producers to switch to sweeteners that don't taste as good and arguably have worse health effects.

They want a sugar tax because they want more money. Cutting childhood obesity is just a pretext.

Let's see -- a sin tax for sugar. That is such a dumb idea.

Jim P. writes: Let's see -- a sin tax for sugar. That is such a dumb idea.

If you must have a sin tax, which is silly anyway, I suppose sugar should be among the first things to fall under it.

The Goddess writes: How wonderful that the children do the grocery shopping for their parents in the UK.

Any no child in all the history of England has ever gone unaccompanied into a store and purchased sugar-laden items for themselves. You should have thought that comment through.

In Florida, we have a sugar tax, in a manner of speaking. Food items are not taxed; however, the candy at the check out lines, because it is considered a non-essential item, is taxed at Florida's glorious 7% sales tax.

Florida gouges its residents on sales taxes and various fees because the state constitution prohibits an income tax.

You should have thought that comment through.

You need to recognize satire

I dunno....kids do plenty of "shopping" from vending machines! It just might make them think twice.

And the cigarette tax has probably discouraged many 18-year-olds from smoking.

(One source says: In the UK, "the offence is SELLING tobacco products to a person under 18, it's not an offence to BUY them under 18.

"There is no legal minimum age for smoking, and it's not an offence to buy them for an under 18.")