Manawatu Standard

Soft drink tax needed to improve health – experts

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A tax on soft drinks might be the only way to stop Australian­s drinking nearly 2.5 billion litres of fizzy drinks each year, health authoritie­s say.

A group of prominent Australian public health bodies wants the next federal government to introduce a 20% levy, to drive consumptio­n down by about 31% over four years.

Data released last month by the Australia Institute of Health and Welfare revealed that being overweight is the most costly risk factor for Australia’s health spending by disease.

Australian Medical Associatio­n president Omar Khorshid said introducin­g a levy on sugary drinks would send a price signal to consumers that the products were unhealthy. ‘‘It also incentivis­es manufactur­ers to reformulat­e these drinks to reduce the sugar content.’’

The urgent plea amid the federal election campaign comes as new University of Queensland research shows that 15% of young Australian children are drinking two or more soft drinks a day. Children who regularly consume cans of cola are 1.5 times likely to have weight problems and tooth decay.

Cancer Council Victoria director of prevention Craig Sinclair said drastic action needed to be taken on sugary drink consumptio­n to address the nation’s obesity crisis.

‘‘Australian­s are drinking 2.4 billion litres of sugary drinks every year, with a regular 600ml bottle of soft drink containing around 16 teaspoons of sugar alone,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s having a serious impact on our health.’’

Some of the serious chronic diseases caused by obesity include type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.

The public health experts say a sugar levy would see 16,000 fewer type 2 diabetes cases, 4440 fewer heart disease cases, and 1100 fewer stroke cases over a 25-year period.

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