Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are consumed globally, with intake levels above the recommended daily limits for free sugar in many high-income countries and on the rise in low- and middle-income countries.
In these regions, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma), and diabetes, tend to be on the rise.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), non-communicable diseases kill 41 million people annually, equivalent to 74 per cent of all deaths globally.
As a result, taxing sugary drinks can be a win for health and government revenue, according to the WHO’s first-ever tax manual for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB).
“SSBs have little to no added nutritional value, but their consumption is significantly associated with tooth decay, weight gain and obesity, metabolic conditions and other diet-related non-communicable diseases,” said Dr Rudiger Krech, the WHO’s director of health promotion.
Studies have linked their consumption to various health risks, such as weight gain, high blood pressure, and inflammation.
A French adult study found a potential direct association between higher artificial sweetener consumption and increased cardiovascular disease risk, including heart attack and stroke.
The findings indicate that food additives, consumed daily by millions of people and present in thousands of foods and drinks, should not be considered a healthy and safe alternative to sugar.
People who drink sugary beverages do not feel as complete as those eating the same calories from solid food. Research shows that they don’t compensate for the high caloric content of these beverages by eating less food.
The research suggests a range of healthier beverages that can be used in their place, with water being the top option.
Of course, this is easier said than done if you’re a frequent soda drinker. If it’s the carbonation you like, give sparkling water a try. If the taste is too bland, try naturally flavored sparkling water. If that’s still too much of a jump, add a splash of juice, sliced citrus, or some fresh herbs.
You can also do this with home-brewed tea, like sparkling iced tea with lemon, cucumber, and mint.
To control the rising burden of obesity and non-communicable diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.
“Regular consumption of SSBs, including soft drinks, flavoured milks, energy drinks, vitamin waters, fruit juices and sweetened iced teas, is associated with an increased risk of dental cavities, type 2 diabetes, weight gain and obesity in both children and adults, heart disease, stroke and cancer,” according to a WHO release.
Evidence shows that implementing taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages increases product prices and reduces demand, resulting in fewer purchases.
According to the WHO, taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages can be a powerful tool to promote health while advancing health equity and mobilizing revenue for countries to achieve universal health coverage.
The guidelines recommend that to prevent obesity and tooth decay, adults and children should reduce their consumption of free sugars to less than 10 percent of their daily energy intake.
In addition to reducing the intake of sugars to below 50 percent of daily energy intake (around six teaspoons of table sugar for adults) for additional health benefits.
Countries such as Kenya that have not pursued a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages have cited several barriers limiting them.
One is that government agencies hold different and sometimes opposing interests and lobby against sugar-sweetened beverage companies’ taxation of sweet drinks.
One thing is clear; however, regular sugar-sweetened beverages, including soft drinks, flavoured milk, energy drinks, vitamin waters, fruit juices, and sweetened iced teas, are associated with increased health risks in both children and adults.
