Australia should implement a tax on sugary drinks because “if price goes up, people drink less”, a health body chief has said.
Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) chief executive Jane Martin said consumption in Australia was now high enough that a sugar tax similar to the one announced in the UK would be in line with global health recommendations.
“Yes. We have high consumption, we have a problem with obesity and a tax on sugary drinks is something that should be implemented,” she said.
The OPC was established by the Cancer Council and Diabetes Australia in Victoria as well as VicHealth and a World Health Organisation centre at Deakin University.
The group has campaigned for a sugar tax in the past and says there is now both public and political interest in it.
“People are concerned about sugar. Eighty-five per cent of people surveyed support a tax on sugary drinks if the money is used to support programs for childhood obesity,” Ms Martin said.
“I think with our public, it shows that they understand that price is a way of influencing behaviour.”
Sugar would be considered for a tax just like tobacco and alcohol
Jamie Oliver called on Australia to pull its “finger out” and follow the UK in establishing a sugar tax in its fights against obesity
Ms Martin echoed his calls saying “the recommendations from global health agencies is to impose a tax”.
“We have a tax review at the moment and these kinds of taxes are being considered — tobacco, alcohol, sugary drinks — because of the unique harm that comes with consumption,” she said.
“It’s part of what will be considered as part of the tax reform.
She said the surprise move by the UK to announce the tax would help pave the way for other countries.
“Once countries like the UK do this it does put more pressure on other countries to look at this. It does set a precedent,” Ms Martin said.
“This is a global issue and we’re suffering from the same problems. The companies that are marketing the sugary drinks are global and they’re very successful.”
But the Australian Beverage Council has disputed the link between soft drinks and obesity, saying that when it came to “discretionary food”, sugary drinks were not the problem.
“It is absurd to think this will solve obesity when soft drinks contribute just 1.7 per cent of the daily intake of kilojoules for Australian adults,” chief executive Geoff Parker said.
Professor Tim Gill, from the University of Sydney’s Institute of Obesity, Nutrition and Exercise, said the wider public would support a sugar tax provided the funds raised went back into health
“Certainly it’s something that has been recommended to the Government for a long time in Australia,” Professor Gill said.
“It’s quite disappointing that in fact the UK has introduced it before we have because it was on the health agenda here in Australia well before that.
“I don’t think there’s anyone within the Government or anyone within the community who would argue with the fact that reducing our consumption of sugar, sweets and beverages and soft drinks is something that is warranted.
“And if a tax has proven to be successful like it has in other countries such as Mexico, then it’s something that the Treasurer should be considering.”