The UK government has implemented the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) in the country.

The government anticipates the introduction of a new levy on soft drinks will lead to reduction of sugar content in soft drinks and address the issue of child obesity in the UK.

The decision to introduce the SDIL was announced in March 2016, and since then, around 50% of soft drink manufacturers in the UK are reported to have reduced sugar levels in their products.

Soft drink manufacturers who fail to reformulate will pay 24p per litre of drink if it contains eight grams of sugar per 100 millilitres and 18p per litre of drink if it contains between five and eight grams of sugar per 100 millilitres.

“The Soft Drinks Industry Levy is groundbreaking policy that will help to reduce sugar intake, whilst funding sports programmes and nutritious breakfast clubs for children.”

The new levy is expected to raise £240m on an annual basis and will be go towards doubling the primary sports premium, creating a healthy pupils capital fund to help schools upgrade their sports facilities, and giving children access to top quality physical education equipment.

The revenue generated through the SDIL will also be used to fund healthy school breakfast clubs.

The UK Public Health Minister Steve Brine said: “Our teenagers consume nearly a bathtub of sugary drinks each year on average, fuelling a worrying obesity trend in this country.

“The Soft Drinks Industry Levy is groundbreaking policy that will help to reduce sugar intake, whilst funding sports programmes and nutritious breakfast clubs for children.

“The progress made so far on our obesity plan is promising—but with one in three children still leaving primary school overweight or obese, we have not ruled out doing more in future.”