Brighton University sugar tax announcement labelled ‘autocratic’ by student campaigner
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A student at the University of Brighton has blasted the institution for placing a so-called sugar tax of 10p on all soft drinks bought on campus, labelling the move “autocratic.” Speaking on BBC Sussex Breakfast, mature social science student, Jeremy Gale, criticised the timing of the announcement which was made just as the last academic year closed. Why not go into their own surplus and deliver this rather than asking poor students to fund it?” Mr Gale has since set up the Brighton Students Against Sugar Tax campaign and hopes to block the move in the coming academic year. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver praised the university for placing the tax on the drinks and, according to Brighton & Hove News, he send staff and students a message of support, in which he said: “We’re facing a growing obesity crisis. Jamie Oliver on sugar tax “Students of all ages need to be more aware of the dangers sugar consumption can have on our long-term health.” Responding to Mr Gales comments, the university said it has joined up with Brighton and Hove Council in the national ‘Sugar Smart’ campaign, and said Brighton is the first city in the UK leading the way for others that are in the process of joining.
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