For the health - Higher taxes on soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco?

Five studies suggest taxation for unhealthy products

The journal "The Lancet" recently published five articles that argue together that high taxes on unhealthy food and beverages are a strong response to rising rates of chronic illness. In addition, taxes provide a solution to combat many non-communicable diseases.

One of these five articles is the study by Professor Franco Sassi, Professor of International Health Policy and Economics at the Imperial College London in England. Sassi wants to show in his study that raising the price of unhealthy products could change consumption across the board. The biggest health benefits are found in people on low incomes. The group also suffers disproportionately from chronic diseases. The results of the study were published in the journal "The Lancet".

Income-poor people should go healthier shopping

Sassis research has shown that an increase in spending puts a higher burden on lower-income households than on more affluent households, as shopping accounts for a large proportion of total spending. Since many unhealthy articles are relatively cheap to buy, low-income individuals should not be further motivated to buy them.

Researchers are calling for taxes on sweetened beverages. The tax revenues should be used to promote healthy food. (Image: B. Wylezich / fotolia.com)

Every penny counts

"No amount of money, small as it may be, is trivial to low-income households, especially in low-income countries," Sassi reports in a recent news release from Imperial College London. He calls on politicians to implement policies that benefit the health and well-being of low-income households.

To promote healthy products
In return for tax increases on unhealthy products, tax revenues should be used for programs that offer healthy food as an alternative.

Fight against massive soft drink consumption

"Low-income households are the main consumers of sweetened beverages," explains the professor. This beverage consumption is associated with a high risk of obesity (obesity), diabetes and other chronic diseases. The "sugar tax" would make a major contribution to making poorer people healthier and also to relieving the burden of chronic diseases.

Data from around the world form the basis

Professor Sassi studied data from around the world on the effects of taxes on soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco. In Mexico, for example, a tax on soft drinks was introduced in 2014. This resulted in a per capita reduction of more than four liters of soft drinks per year, with the biggest change in the poorest households.

Reduce cancer, heart disease and diabetes

According to the researchers, non-communicable diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes account for 38 million deaths each year, 16 million of whom are under the age of 70. The scientists want to contribute with their collected studies to reduce the number of deaths by 2030 by one third.

Many diseases result from poverty

"Noncommunicable diseases are a major cause and consequence of poverty worldwide," Dr. Rachel Nugent, chairwoman of The Lancet Task Force on NCDs and economics, who is dedicated to fighting global non-communicable diseases. Addressing this challenge would mean investing heavily to improve health systems worldwide.

Taxes on the unhealthy to promote healthy

"Taxing unhealthy products can bring great health benefits," says Nugent. The evidence collected would show that these taxes can be fairly implemented without unduly harming the poorest people in society. (Vb)