Health groups have backed calls by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver for Australia to follow Britain's lead and introduce a tax on sugar-laden drinks.
The "Naked Chef" criticised governments in Australia, Canada and Germany for failing to combat childhood obesity. 
Britain plans to place a levy on drinks with a total sugar content above five grams per 100 millilitres, with a higher level for more sugary drinks. Fruit juice and milk are excluded. The move is expected to raise $1 billion annually.
France, Belgium, Hungary and Mexico have imposed some form of tax on drinks with added sugar, while Scandinavian countries have levied similar taxes - with varying degrees of success - for many years.
On his Facebook page, Oliver described Britain's move as "bold and brave". "If you are looking at this from other countries . . . Australia, pull your finger out. It's about time your government got on this."
Health groups in Australia said a tax would be an effective way to cut consumer consumption.
Dr Christina Pollard, from Curtin University's School of Public Health, said 13 countries had some form of food tax and it was about time Australia adopted a similar fiscal response.
"Taxing a food that has adverse health effects has been demonstrated to reduce consumption," Dr Pollard said. "If the level is 20 per cent or more, it does have an effect [on consumption]."
Dr Pollard said the impact on public health was greatest when subsidies were delivered to healthier food options, as well as taxing sugary food.
She said lobbying by food manufacturers made it difficult for governments, noting original plans by Mexico were watered down.
A Coca-Cola Amatil spokesman said the soft drinks manufacturer recognised obesity was a "very real issue in Australia" but the solution was not taxing sugar. "A sugar tax is not the solution to this complex problem," the spokesman said.
"We know that there has been a 26 per cent decline in per capita sugar contribution, from carbonated soft drinks, from 1997 to 2011. Yet, over the same time, obesity rates have increased.
"A tax on a select group of beverages, like the sugar levy announced in the UK overnight, would be ineffective in combating obesity and could negatively impact [on] the local beverage manufacturing sector and increase prices for consumers."
Dr Pollard said a tax would directly help the community.