Support for the government’s plan to introduce a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks has grown "significantly" since last year‚ a new survey has found. On Thursday, Healthy Living Alliance (Heala) said its survey of 1,000 people‚ conducted in July‚ found that support for the tax has grown by 16%. "A total of 58% of survey participants approve unconditionally of the sugary drinks tax‚ while only 29% oppose it, and the remainder take a neutral position," the alliance said. "Support for the tax has grown in recent months: a comparable survey, conducted in October 2016, found that 42% of respondents favoured a sugary drinks tax." Heala co-ordinator Tracey Malawana said the results have shown that South Africans "have totally got the idea that this is a well-intentioned tax that could improve the health of the nation", she said. "The debate on the proposed tax on sugary drinks has certainly raised public awareness of the sheer sugar-load these drinks carry and their harmful impact on health." ...
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