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WHO call for special taxes on sugary drinks
More and more people worldwide are suffering from overweight and obesity. The World Health Organization (WHO) is now campaigning for the introduction of special taxes on sugary drinks to tackle the problem.
High sugar consumption endangers the health
Health experts warn again and again: Avoid too high sugar consumption. The sweetener can lead to enormous health problems such as tooth decay, obesity, high blood pressure or diabetes when consumed frequently. Much sugar is added via sweet lemonades. Such soft drinks are often the cause of obesity. The World Health Organization (WHO) now calls for the introduction of special taxes on sugary drinks to tackle the overweight problem.
Sweet soft drinks are a common cause of obesity. The World Health Organization is now demanding a special tax on sweet drinks. (Image: airborne77 / fotolia.com) WHO calls for tax on sugary drinks
As reported by the news agency AFP, the WHO said on Tuesday in Geneva that there was more evidence that it would slow down the consumption of such drinks. By introducing appropriate levies, governments can "reduce suffering and save lives," said Douglas Bettcher, head of the WHO Department of Non-Communicable Disease Prevention.
According to WHO, taxes that raise the price of sugary soft drinks by 20 percent or more are particularly effective. According to the information, a price increase of one fifth would mean that one fifth less sugar-based drinks would be consumed in the country concerned. And a price increase of 50 percent accordingly cut consumption by half.
In some countries, the problem of being overweight is already countered by a sugar-fat tax. However, a majority of Germans reject the sugar tax.
Lower odds of overweight people
According to the Agency's message, the WHO recommendation follows a meeting of tax experts last year to examine different evidence and case studies from several countries to determine which approach works best to increase the odds of overweight people reduce. For example, a tax on sweet drinks in Mexico introduced in 2014, with price increases of ten percent, led to a six percent reduction in consumption.
Not more than six teaspoons of sugar per day
It has long been recommended by the WHO that a maximum of ten percent of the daily calorie intake should consist of sugar. In the meantime, she is in favor of reducing the limit to five percent. That means that no more than six small teaspoons of sugar should be consumed per day. In a soft drink, however, about ten teaspoons of sugar are included.
According to WHO estimates, around one in three adults worldwide is overweight. More than half a billion people are therefore even obese. In 2015, about 42 million children under the age of five were overweight or obese. (Ad)