Two-thirds back sugary drink tax

Poll shows even support across all income levels, but Government shows no sign of taking early action

Anew poll shows two-thirds of Kiwis support a tax on sugary drinks, with revenue to go towards child obesity programmes. The UMR Research poll, commissioned by the University of Auckland, asked 750 people how strongly they agreed or disagreed with the proposal, with 67 per cent either strongly or somewhat agreeing a tax should be imposed.

Support was evenly split across all income levels, with those expected to be most opposed most in favour.

Despite consuming more sugary drinks on average, those earning under $50,000 a year were 69 per cent in support of a tax, 1 per cent ahead of the highest earners above $100,000. Middle-income earners were 63 per cent in favour.

“The issue of sugary drinks intake is urgent, considering our high rates of dental health problems as well as child and adult obesity and diabetes,” health researcher Dr Gerhard Sundborn said.

“A sugary drinks tax is the most effective means to address this, and only the Government can enact it. It requires the Government to provide leadership which prioritises our children’s health over corporate profits.”

However, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said the Government’s position on a tax hadn’t changed.

“It’s not something we’re actively considering. We are continuing to keep a watching brief on the emerging evidence and practice.”

He said that despite advocates’ claims, there was no evidence a sugar tax decreased obesity rates.

“There’s no single solution that will fix obesity. We’ve implemented a

The Government [must] provide leadership which prioritises our children’s health over corporate profits. Dr Gerhard Sundborn

Childhood Obesity Plan with a range of interventions across Government, the private sector, communities, schools and families. We’re now one of the few OECD countries to have a target and comprehensive plan on childhood obesity.”

More than 1.3 million Kiwis are obese, making New Zealand the thirdfattest country in the OECD.

In Mexico, where Coca-Cola is almost as much a part of the culture as tequila and more than 70 per cent of the population is overweight, a sugary drinks tax has been in place for two years.

Though it adds just one peso (7c) to the cost of a can of soft drink, consumption has fallen by an average of 7.6 per cent. It is still too early to tell if there have been any health benefits to the Mexican population.

Despite broad support for a tax from the Greens, the Maori Party and the Opportunities Party at a Fizz Symposium of health professionals and researchers in June, the Government has declined all invitations to attend for more than four years.

Labour is preparing its own sugar tax policy.

“In contrast, when Coke have invited the Government to their functions they find the time,” Sundborn said, citing visits by John Key and Gerry Brownlee to a new Coca-Cola Amatil factory in 2011, and by Minister for Economic Develop- ment Stephen Joyce in 2016.

A spokeswoman for Coleman said parliamentary commitments in Wellington meant he wasn’t able to attend the Fizz Symposium.

“He did pass on his apologies and wished the organisers the best wishes for a successful event. Attempts were made to find a suitable fill-in, but the timing of the event made it difficult.”

A tax on drinks with more than 5g of sugar per 100ml was announced by the British Government last year, and is due to take effect next April.

Other countries to have introduced a tax include Hungary, where a 2011 tax led to a drop of about a fifth in sales, Tonga, the Cook Islands, France and several cities in the US.

Denmark abolished its sugar tax in 2014, citing large tax losses from illegal sales as Danes crossed to Sweden or Germany to buy drinks in bulk.