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SSB taxes: Gaining momentum


In the UK, the Soft drink industry levy (SDIL/ sugar tax) has been in place for three months. Whether you have noticed the SDIL or not, it has resulted in sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs), like Cola and Lemonade, either going up in price, or being subject to reformulation so that they contain less sugar than 5g or 8g of sugar per 100ml stipulated by the levy.

Although some people may not be happy about the SDIL in the UK, possibly due to a reduction in soft drink choice, or an increased prevalence of artificial sweeteners, across the globe, the argument for taxes on sugary drinks is gaining momentum with 30 countries, UK included, already having adopted SSB taxes.

In Australia, two prominent researchers (Alessandro Demaio and Alexandra Jones) recently published their perspectives on the debate. They argue that the Australian government needs to act now, as it is 'time the price of SSBs at the register more accurately reflected the true cost of their consumption on Australia’s health and economy'.

You can read more by searching for the following perspective piece: The true price of sugar-sweetened disease: political inertia requires renewed, strategic action, doi:10.5694/mja18.00223 Published online 09/07/2018

Due to the potential health implications from SSB taxes, the Obesity Society has called for more research, especially since many of potential benefits of SSB taxes are unproven, or unrehearsed. The society goes on to state that like alcohol and tobacco taxes a lot or research support is needed to persuade governments and the public that they are needed. However, 'there are greater complexities in the relationship between diet and obesity than between alcohol and tobacco and negative health outcomes'- which makes the call for research even more pertinent in terms of SSBs.

I am hoping that the research conducted as part of my PhD will start to fill a gap in research that currently exists around SSB taxation, and their potential positive and negative impacts.

So to finish up, of course there is no single policy or action that will be a silver bullet for overweight or obesity, there is a lot of public and research interest in SSBs which, as suggested by Demaio and Jones, creates a critical policy window for public health gain- both from a tax, and from the education and increased awareness that comes with it. SSB taxation could be implemented globally to really kick start sugar reduction strategies, especially since the approach is revenue-generating and as such funds could be gathered for other health priorities such as increasing physical activity.

But as with everything- we need to make sure that we are not fighting sugar, but rather obesity and factors that make it harder for people to control their weight. A discussion that is continued here:

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