A few cents extra on price tag could break our soft drink habit

THE widespread health benefits of a 20 per cent tax on sugary drinks has been ­revealed by Queensland research out today.

Sugar tax will reduce soft drink intake by 14 per cent

THE widespread health benefits of a 20 per cent tax on sugary drinks has been ­revealed by Queensland ­research out today.

The Australian Medical Association of Queensland supports a tax to help slow the state’s escalating soft drink habit. Until now there has been little evidence of the effect of a price increase.

“Policymakers have cited limited available evidence as a barrier to policy progress in the area of taxes on unhealthy foods, so we expect the detail in our study will be useful to them,” University of Queensland’s School of Public Health researcher Dr Lennert Veerman said.

The study found that a 20 per cent tax, an 88¢ increase on a two-litre bottle of Coke, would result in a 14 per cent fall in consumption.

The modest lifestyle adjustment over time would result in a drastic reduction in life-threatening diseases, a healthier future for the next generation and a $29 million cut in the country’s annual health expenditure.

Sugary drinks are the largest source of added sugar in Australian children’s diets.

The research, published in the international research journal PloS ONE, showed that, within 25 years, there would be 4400 less cases of heart disease, 1100 less strokes and 1000 less cancer cases. Australians’ cumulative weight gain also would ease. The tax would also raise $400 million a year.

“We can see that small changes can have a big impact over time. The money raised through the tax could also be directed into more widespread, healthy eating strategies, like cheaper fruit and vegetables,” Dr Veerman said. The study focused on soft drinks and flavoured mineral waters only.

Dr Shaun Rudd, AMAQ board and council chairman, said taxation, legislation and regulation were the only solution as 65 per cent of Queenslanders were now overweight or obese.

“Education has not worked and we must help people to help themselves,” he said. Gold Coast mums Julie-Anne Brummitt and Rebecca Rodi said they were aware of the high sugar content in drinks and limited their four-year-old children Jeffe and Scarlett’s intake to a rare treat.