THE purpose of the Treasury’s proposed taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages policy published on July 8 (Tax is sweet news for boosting revenue, July 11 ) is unclear and, on face value, lacking in moral force.If it were to be introduced:• Tax proceeds must go towards medical research on obesity, diabetes and hypertension. Having another tax for a dysfunctional government’s general revenue is indefensible;• It should be a tax on manufacturers and not consumers. This would be an incentive for manufacturers to innovate their products;• Measures should be taken at schools that have vending machines dispensing sugar-sweetened drinks. Schools that take a commission create a perverse incentive; and• Research should be commissioned now to assess the effect of such a tax on eating and drinking habits and the body mass index of South Africans. Policy should always be based on evidence.A sugar tax should be considered only if its intention is to improve the health of South Africans. If it is j...
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