THE persistent theme of at least four articles in Business Day in recent weeks has been that a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages is only part of the solution. It is the "if we cannot do everything, we should do nothing" argument.The tax is a simple, first, preventive step that will increase the fiscal space in the health budget used for taking care of people with lifestyle diseases.The column by Bronwyn Nortje (Treasury ignores sugar tax lessons, July 14) made some important points, correctly highlighting the need for a multipronged approach to tackling obesity and the implementation of all the interventions identified in the national strategy for the prevention and control of obesity. It pointed to the need for policy to be evidence-based.Where she missed the mark is the lack of understanding on what the evidence shows regarding the efficacy of taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages — particularly regarding Mexico, rightly noted as the country most like SA from whom we can learn most.No...
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