23 November, 2016

Make sugary drinks costly, unaffordable

A recent report of the World Health Organisation (WHO) calling upon all governments to impose deterrent taxes on sugary drinks has again drawn attention to the danger posed to public health by these drinks. The WHO advocates high taxes in the range of 20%-50% which would raise the prices of sugary drinks to such levels that most people would be discouraged from buying them. It wants all sugary drinks, energy and sports drinks, beverages like flavoured and breakfast drinks and even fruit juices to be taxed because the sugar content in all of them can cause serious health ailments. It recommends consumption of fruit in place of juices and recommends payment of subsidies for fruit which will bring down their prices and increase consumption. It has proposed a price-based strategy to reduce consumption of sugar to go along with public awareness campaigns.

Consumption of sugar is a major cause of many serious ailments and health conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and obesity. The WHO recommends a sugar intake of not more than 5% of total daily calories or six tea spoons a day; it even says that, nutritionally, there is no need for sugar in the diet. The harmful impact of sugar has been known for long and it has been described as white poison. It is considered to be worse than fat for the body. Diabetes and obesity have been increasing all over the world in the past few decades. India is at great risk because of the increase in such cases. It is called the diabetes capital of the world. Obesity is increasing among children also. Changes in dietary habits and contents and sedentary lifestyles are among the main reasons for the deteriorating health profiles. Sugary beverages account for a major part of sugar consumption.

Some countries like France and Mexico have imposed high taxes on sugary drinks. The WHO has noted that they have been able to reduce sugar consumption. A number of American cities, too, have recently imposed high taxes on them. Britain is considering whether to impose high taxes on all sugary beverages or to ban them altogether. The sugary drinks industry has a high lobbying power, and even data based on sponsored research to counter any move against the drinks. India should also consider the high-tax strategy to reduce sugar consumption. A 5% tax was imposed two years ago, but a higher tax can be considered in the interest of public health. The high fat tax imposed by Kerala this year on some food items is a good precedent. 

Source: www.deccanherald.com

23.11.2016

You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have