Opposition to British University's Sugar Tax

In May, the University of Brighton announced that it would become Britain's first university to join a campaign to discourage consumption of sugar. As part of the campaign, the university imposed a 10 pence (about 13 cents) tax on sugary drinks. The funds will be used for programs that raise awareness of alternatives to sugar. The Telegraph reported that a new student group, Brighton Students Against Sugar Tax, is campaigning against the tax, arguing that the university could spend its own money on nutrition education if it wants to do so. Jeremy Gale, one of the organizers, told the Telegraph, "The university’s income has flourished despite a reduction in grants and a reliance on student fees. Why, then, doesn’t the university reinvest a small percentage of their bulging surplus into food education and healthy eating initiatives, rather than relying on a regressive and punitive levy that will hurt the poorest students the most?"