Herald journalist Peter FitzSimmons's article discusses the urgent action required to begin to reverse our nation's alarming health statistics. The following central points argue in favour of a sugar sweetened beverage tax:

1. Overconsumption of sugar is not only causing an obesity epidemic throughout our brown and pleasant land but also causing a shocking increase in such diseases as Type 2 Diabetes.
2. As a country, as a community, we therefore need to both reduce that consumption and find a way to pay for the soaring health costs.
3. International best practice is to introduce a sugar tax, which accomplishes three things: discourages the consumption of sugar-laden products; raises revenue now from those who will be using the hospital wards in the future; and encourages manufacturers to lower their sugar content.