How soda makers can adapt to sugar tax

For years, Malaysia has held its place as the country with the highest rate of diabetes sufferers in Asia, and this is why immediate measures must be taken.

ON Nov 10, The Star published an article titled, “Consumers looking to healthier options with sugar tax”, where you introduced the government’s plans on implementing sugar tax and action said to be taken on soda manufacturing companies by April 2019.

I would like to express my gratitude and support for this government decision towards the betterment of our nation’s health despite the ongoing protest by said soda companies for fear of losing revenue.

Following in the footsteps of other nations that have been – and are still – practising this method, we should use this chance to prove ourselves as an innovative nation that cares deeply for the well-being of their people. For years, Malaysia has held its place as the country with the highest rate of diabetes sufferers in Asia, and this is why it is imperative that immediate measures are taken to solve or possibly eradicate this life-endangering problem.

In this regard, I would like to suggest a few solutions that can be considered by soft drink manufacturers in order to adapt to the additional cost administered.

The first way is the more logical solution, that is, maintaining the size of the drink but reducing the sugar level or replacing the sugar with healthier alternatives like sugar-infused vitamins (as suggested in the Star article).

Other suggestions that might seem more appealing are reducing the size of the drink so that consumers consume the product in smaller amounts, or maintaining the original product size and sugar content but charging consumers more to compensate for the increased manufacturing expenditure.

Although this taxation has yet to receive positive feedback from most, the instant effects of this implementation would be a vast improvement to the current medicinal methods.

In fact, it will save the government’s budget for healthcare services as the public will be healthier and may profit the government as the tax would generate more revenue.

Using these methods, soft drink manufacturers may have to experience a slight drop in sales that may affect their reputation and rank but rest assured, loyal consumers will be willing to spend a little extra on their favourite soda.

PUTERI KAMILAH MOHD AZANUDDIN Kota Damansara, Selangor