Dental surgeons: ‘Milkshake tax’ is a win for dental and public health

Responding to the Government’s announcement that they are expanding the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to include milk-based drinks and lowering the threshold from 5g to 4.5g of sugar per 100ml, Dr Charlotte Eckhardt, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England said:  

"After years of campaigning, we welcome the Government’s decision to extend the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to include milk-based drinks and lower the threshold from 5g to 4.5g of sugar per 100ml as a significant victory for public health.  

"Tooth decay remains the leading cause of hospital admissions among 5- to 9-year-olds in England, outpacing other illnesses such as acute tonsilitis. Extending the Levy represents a major step towards protecting children’s oral health.  

"FDS has consistently called for the threshold to be lowered to 4g of sugar per 100ml. While today’s announcement does not go as far as we recommend, we nevertheless welcome this change and remain hopeful that it will improve the dental and public health of the nation."

Notes to editors  

1. The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England is committed to enabling dentists and specialists to provide patients with the highest possible standards of practice and care.   

2. The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons has a published policy position statement on the Soft Drinks Industry Levy: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/about-the-rcs/government-relations-and-consultation/position-statements-and-reports/fighting-tooth-decay-one-sip-at-a-time/  

4. The Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England has two recommendations to reduce the number of children being admitted to hospital for tooth decay:  

a. Good oral hygiene and rolling out the Supervised Toothbrushing programme year-round; The Supervised Toothbrushing programme should be implemented year-round to ensure that as many children as possible benefit and establish positive brushing habits that they can continue at home. Children should brush their teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and see a dentist regularly.  
b. Reduce sugar consumption by strengthening the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL); Sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay. When we consume sugary foods or drinks - such as sweets, fizzy drinks, or fruit juice - the bacteria in our mouths feed on the sugar and produce acid as a by-product which causes tooth decay. The Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) should be strengthened by lowering the sugar threshold from 5g of sugar per 100ml to 4g and extending the levy to include sugary milk-based drinks.   

5. Government released a press release on 16 September 2025 stating that tooth decay “remains the most common reason for a 5 to 9-year-old child to be admitted to hospital in England, with 70 a day having teeth extracted due to decay.” - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hundreds-of-thousands-of-children-benefit-from-major-dental-health-drive  
 
5. For more information, please contact the RCS England press office: telephone: 020 7869 6053/6054/6060; email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk. For out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.