Soft-drinks industry offers ‘better’ alternatives to sugar tax in parliamentary hearings
Beverage makers also raise the prospect of a jobs bloodbath, and Tiger Brands is worried that cold-drink concentrates like Oros will bear a heavier burden
The soft-drinks industry has proposed a raft of measures to reduce the daily number of calories consumed as an alternative to the Treasury’s proposed sugar tax. The proposals put forward by the Beverage Association SA include an increase in the range of nonalcoholic beverages with lower sugar content; making smaller pack sizes of drinks available; informing consumers about the calorie content of nonalcoholic beverages; and refraining from marketing certain beverages to children under 12 years. The proposals were submitted in a presentation by the association’s executive director, Mapule Ncanywa, during public hearings by Parliament’s finance and health committees. She argued that the alternatives would be more effective than the sugar tax while avoiding all the negative and social impacts. "On health, the industry will help reduce calorie consumption by 14kCal-18kCal per person per day. This 14% reduction in daily calorie intake is two to five times what the proposed tax on sugar-sw...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.