WHO Urges Governments to Impose Taxes on Sugary Drinks
12 Oct 2016 --- Introducing legislation to tax sugary drinks is an effective government policy in the fight against obesity, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and rolling out laws around the world would curtail consumption and impact on diabetes rates. Fiscal policies where at least a 20 percent increase is introduced to the retail price of sugary beverages would result in “proportional reductions in consumption”, according to the WHO report, published yesterday (Oct 11).
The document talks about lowering the intake of “free sugars” - monosaccharides like glucose and fructose and disaccharides such as sucrose or table sugar as well as sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices, and fruit juice concentrates - that are added to foods and drinks. Reducing consumption of these “free sugars” will improve nutrition among populations with fewer people suffering from overweight, obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.
“Consumption of free sugars, including products like sugary drinks, is a major factor in the global increase of people suffering from obesity and diabetes,” says Dr Douglas Bettcher, Director of WHO’s Department for the Prevention of NCDs. “If governments tax products like sugary drinks, they can reduce suffering and save lives. They can also cut healthcare costs and increase revenues to invest in health services.”
The report says that fiscal policies should target foods and beverages for which healthier alternatives are available and presents the results of a meeting last year when global experts convened by WHO and an investigation of 11 recent systems reviews of the effectiveness of fiscal policy for improving diets and prevents noncommunicable diseases.
The findings include: “Subsidies for fresh fruits and vegetables that reduce prices by 10–30 percent can increase fruit and vegetable consumption. Taxation of certain foods and drinks, particularly those high in saturated fats, trans fat, free sugars and/or salt appears promising, with existing evidence clearly showing that increases in the prices of such products reduces their consumption.”
“Excise taxes, such as those used on tobacco products, that apply a set (specific) amount of tax on a given quantity or volume of the product, or particular ingredient, are likely to be more effective than sales or other taxes based on a percentage of the retail price. Public support for such tax increases could be increased if the revenue they generate is earmarked for efforts to improve health systems, encourage healthier diets and increase physical activity.”
National dietary surveys show that drinks high in free sugars can be a major source of unnecessary calories, particularly for children, adolescents and young adults. According to the new WHO report, low income families, young people and people who consume unhealthy food and beverages often are most responsive to changes in prices of sugary drinks and therefore stand to gain the highest health benefits.
Director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, Dr Francesco Branca, claims that nutritionally people actually do not even need sugar in their diet.
“WHO recommends that if people do consume free sugars, they keep their intake below 10 percent of their total energy needs, and reduce it to less than 5 percent for additional health benefits.
“This is equivalent to less than a single serving (at least 250 ml) of commonly consumed sugary drinks per day,” she says.
Several countries have introduced or planning to adopt sugar levies on soft drinks including Mexico, Hungary and France as well as some US cities. Earlier this year the British government revealed its Childhood Obesity Plan includes a tax on sugary drinks and the South African governments is planning a similar levy, as is Ireland.
There is strong opposition in these countries with the soft drinks industry lobbying against such moves, claiming they would negatively impact economies and do little to curb obesity and health-related issues. Opponents disagree with the idea that taxing drinks directly cuts the calorie intake of adults and kids, claiming there should be more emphasis on reducing overall calorie intake and increasing exercise.
At the Second International Conference on Nutrition in 2014, governments committed to reshape food systems, and this is the main goal of the recently declared UN Decade of Action of Nutrition 2016-2025.
WHO maintains the food industry can play a significant role in promoting healthy diets by reducing the fat, sugar and salt content of processed foods; ensuring that healthy and nutritious choices are available and affordable to all consumers; restricting marketing of foods high in sugars, salt and fats, especially those foods aimed at children and teenagers; and ensuring the availability of healthy food choices and supporting regular physical activity practice in the workplace.
by Gaynor Selby
