A large meta-analysis has shown that drinking sugar sweetened beverages raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, independent of obesity. The novel aspect of this paper is that the researchers have quantified the size of the problem for public health. The results would suggest that in the UK, between 2010 and 2020, 2-6% of new cases of type 2 diabetes would be attributable to the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages. This figure is higher in the USA, where more sugar sweetened drinks are sold, estimated as 4-13% of new cases in the same period.