Is Halloween more trick than treat? The dangers of overeating sugar, liquorice and sherbet

By Dan Baumgardt, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol

Trick or treat? Something I won’t be hearing at my own door this Halloween. Myself and the other misers of our village will once again be shunning anyone ringing the bell in search of sugar. Apparently, placing a pumpkin outside your house is the standard invitation to call — as much effort as buying the wretched sweets in the first place. Bah humbug (and, since you ask, there won’t be any of those in the house, either).

And just as well, really. Not just because of my general curmudgeonliness, but have you seen what all that sugar…

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