Why we should start taxing sugary soft drinks in Australia
Is this the answer?
By Lauren Williamson
November 24 2016
More Australians are overweight and obese than every before. Obesity alone is estimated to cost Australian taxpayers over $5.3billion per year. As a result, The Grattan Institute is calling for the government to implement a tax on non-alcoholic sugary beverages in a bid to halt growing obesity rates.
“FOR NOW, AUSTRALIA SHOULD INTRODUCE THIS TAX BECAUSE IT OFFERS TWIN BENEFITS: IT WILL REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO BECOME OBESE AND IT WILL ENSURE FEWER TAXPAYER DOLLARS HAVE TO BE SPENT ON THE DAMAGE DONE BY OBESITY.”
DR STEPHEN DUCKET HEALTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR
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Taxes of this kind have been introduced successfully in other countries like Mexico and the city of California. The increase in price by 40c per 100 grams of sugar would raise the price of a can of soft drink by 15cents which will encourage more consumers to drink water.
