Some people assume that taxing sugary products can prevent the diseases and reduce the health problems caused by sugar. But would a sugar tax help control the consumption of foods with high sugar content and boost the diabetes in society? In my opinion, one of the efficient ways to combat obesity and diabetes is rise in price of manufactured food and drink containing high sugar rate.
The main prone of taxing sugar is that consumers change their diet by replacing healthier foods and vegetables. In this case, taxing would be beneficial to stop people from buying sweetened products profusely, mainly by putting a reduction on the price of healthy stuffs. This approach would lead so many citizens to choose nutritious diet. Moreover, these tax revenues compensate for the cost of health care in society. These aligning policies which are supported by WHO towards a health outcome are win-win solution by following the same strategy about the tobacco in precedent years.
However, putting tax on free sugar may concern the economical lives of sugar farmers and sweetened beverage companies around the country. With this in mind, governments should find out a better industry and agriculture product to improve the issues coming from taxes. Using fiscal policies, has perfectly proved, like the case of implanting and harvesting tobacco, that reversible farming goods and methods can cover up this problem.
Furthermore, this policy might have a drawback on the lives of poor levels of society who cannot afford the taxes and payments. Consequently, without considering a relevant plan for this case, it might burden the lower-income populations.
In conclusion, with regard to the recent experiences and policies towards health-threatening products, rising in price of free sugar and sugary products are preventable insights for obesity. With hope that governments and national organizations do not neglect the importance of substitute programs in order to save the vast finance coming from sugar industry.