The general population consumes too much sugar. This is a fact.
Similarly, there is a rise in obesity around the world. The high sugar consumption plays, at least, part of the role of the growing percentage of overweight and obese Canadians.
As a first measure attempt to combat this, a group of Canadian dietitians have proposed a 20% sugar tax. The tax would target food and drink products that contain added sugar.
This proposed plan follows Mexico’s lead. In 2014, Mexico implemented a 10% tax on sugar with mixed results.
Check out this excerpt from CTV’s article, Should Canadians pay a sugar tax on food and drinks?
One year later, sales of the taxed products dropped 12 per cent, according to one study. Mexico also saw a general increase in water consumption, an indicator that “is really positive in terms of preventing chronic disease…
But critics say that, while sales in Mexico dropped, there has yet to be a study that makes a definitive link between the country’s sugar tax and a drop in obesity rates.
One study found that Mexico’s tax only cut about six calories per citizen per day.
This new sugar tax is also being examined by the U.K., the Philippians, and India.
In theory, it seems this tax could help encourage people to shy away from sugar, but would it have the desired effect here in Canada?
What do you think?
Should Canada start taxing products with added sugar?
