According to recently published research from a World Health Organisation (WHO) funded study conducted across a dozen countries and several US states, taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages do work on reducing the demand for said beverages by causing their prices to increase. The research reviewed 86 studies that found that with an increase in the taxes, there was a 15% decline in sales of sugary drinks with no impact on employment in the industry.
However, despite this new evidence, the government has refused to consider introducing a sugar tax. Associate Health Minister, Peeni Henare, has instead pointed to other initiatives that have been implemented to help address the problem of growing rates of obesity. Some of the initiatives include efforts to introduce water and milk only beverages in primary schools, the development of a national physical activity plan, and ensuring clear indication of added sugars on food labels.
The New Zealand Dental Association’s spokesperson, Dr Rob Beaglehole, is calling on the government to take notice of the study done and introduce a sugar levy. More than 45 countries, including the UK, have successfully applied sugar taxes for years. Dr Beaglehole reiterates that an ideal way to start addressing the health needs of the population would be by introducing a sugary drinks levy.
During the recent budget announcement, the Labour government confirmed plans to boost the amount available for urgent dental work on low-income earners from $300 to $1,000. While Dr Beaglehole commended the government’s move, he noted that there was a need to be more proactive when it came to reducing sugar intake, particularly due to the poor state of the country’s water fluoridation.
Currently, just 60% of Kiwis have access to fluoridated water through the piped water network, with the government looking to take over this responsibility from local authorities so that there is better fluoridation coverage nationally.
University of Otago’s Associate Professor in Dental Public Health and Epidemiology, Jonathan Broadbent, however, notes that though fluoridation was helpful, it did not address the root cause of decay. He said that a sugar tax would go after the real culprit and would be revenue-generating. He acknowledged that sugary drinks were a cause of dental decay and provided no nutritional value.
Professor of Nutrition at Auckland University of Technology, Emeritus Professor Elaine Rush also echoed similar views on the association between sugary drinks and poor health and called for other aspects of diet to be addressed including encouraging the consumption of diverse wholesome foods. She urged the government to use the proceeds of such a tax to reduce the cost of healthier nutrient-dense foods like vegetables, fruits, grains and legumes, alongside reducing the cost of dental care for lower-income earners.
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