Ban smoking and tax fruit juice, says George Osborne

When George Osborne introduced the sugar tax on soft drinks in 2016 it was not levied on milk-based drinks or fruit juices. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty

Smoking should be banned and the sugar tax extended to include fruit juice and milkshakes, George Osborne has said.

In 2016, the Conservative former chancellor announced a sugar tax on soft drinks such as Coca-Cola and Irn Bru, claiming the money would be used to provide more sports funding for primary schools. It was not levied on milk-based drinks or fruit juices.