DIABETES AND OBESITY
Mexico’s sugary-drinks tax a sweet success — now SA should follow suit
Opponents claim the intervention doesn’t work, but studies reveal an 11% drop in the purchase of cooldrinks
In Mexico, as in other countries in the Americas and Africa, obesity, diabetes and hypertension have taken an immense toll on our population. In fact, diabetes is referred to as "azucar" (sugar) in our region because it is the sugar in our diet that is such a powerful cause. While many factors must be attended to reduce obesity and diabetes, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that consumption of sugary beverages is a major cause of obesity, diabetes and dental caries, and taxing sugary beverages is the best strategy to curtail sugary beverage intake. The Mexican government agrees, and Mexico became the first country to institute a meaningful tax on sugary beverages, although it was still below recommended taxation levels. At the same time, Mexico set to work on other interventions such as taxing high-energy nonessential food (junk food), reducing children’s exposure to advertising of unhealthy food, implementing better nutritional labelling on the front of packaging, a...
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