"The Mexicans dying for a fizzy drink" : But Is Sugar Tax The Way To Go?

This article is on the BBC news and also featured on Diet Doctor Blog

"Mexicans drink more soda than any other country. Not surprisingly they also have a higher percentage of obesity than any other larger country, including childhood obesity.
Two years ago the government introduced a soda tax and now consumption of soda may be going down."

Read more here
http://www.dietdoctor.com/the-mexicans-dying-for-a-fizzy-drink#comments

"The idea of a sugar tax has also been floated in the UK.
In October a report by Public Health England recommended a tax of between 10% and 20% on high-sugar products as one measure needed to achieve a "meaningful" reduction in sugar consumption. Food Standards Scotland also proposed a sugar tax two weeks ago.
"I don't really want to put new taxes on to anything but we do have to recognise that we face potentially in Britain something of an obesity crisis," Prime Minister David Cameron said last month, promising to announced details of a "fully worked-up programme" to tackle obesity later in the year.
In Mexico, the tax may be working but sometimes it can be hard to see how.
Across the country, corner shops are painted red and white, reminding Mexicans where their loyalties lie.
Posters tempt school children with cheap offers of fizzy drinks and sugary snacks on their way to school. It makes you wonder whether Mexico's thirst for pop can ever be truly quenched.
Do you think sugar companies should pay a "sin tax"? What role should government play? The BBC World Service is holding a live debate on Friday 5 February at 13:00 GMT. Send your questions to thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk or via Twitter to @bbcworldservice using the hashtag #bbcdiabetes "


Read More Here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35461270?post_id=701955043_10153194135005044

Hi Jan,
I listened to the series on diabetes on the world service ..it was very poor.
However some countries have more serious problems than the UK.
In Sri Lanka they blamed poor quality meat from N.Z.!!
Drinking cola in mexico is seen as a status symbol.,
D.

Thanks for your points here Derek ...

Reading the article it also says

" Mexican mums like having chubby kids in their homes as it shows they're feeding them properly. "

Oh this is such a shame ...  

Yes babies do need to put on weight at a steady pace when first born but then things do (or should) even out.

Perhaps there is no easy answer, but I know when my children were growing it was water or milk,and if we were out and a squash was offered I would ensure it was well watered down!

I'm still not convinced a sugar tax is the answer - that remains to be seen

All the best Jan

A depressing state of affairs for sure but I too,am not convinced by a sugar tax either Jan...I no longer smoke cigarettes but when I did,the rise in duty each year was never enough of an incentive to quit,I moaned about the rise of course but my desire for (and addiction) to tobacco far outweighed that of my bank balance and I suspect it's the same for sugar/carb laden junk-Us thinking people widely accept that carbs/sugar are addictive to some and won't be parted with easily.

Paul1976 wrote:A depressing state of affairs for sure but I too,am not convinced by a sugar tax either Jan...I no longer smoke cigarettes but when I did,the rise in duty each year was never enough of an incentive to quit,I moaned about the rise of course but my desire for (and addiction) to tobacco far outweighed that of my bank balance and I suspect it's the same for sugar/carb laden junk-Us thinking people widely accept that carbs/sugar are addictive to some and won't be parted with easily.

Agree 100% Paul, would we give up wine because of a small tax increase no way, and if sales dropped the retailers would drop their margins to keep the sales up. This tax is just another way to fleece the populous. What is needed is education and above all HONEST FOOD LABELS. Last time the situation was up for change in the EU the food manufacturers spent 750 million Euros to make sure the truth was withheld. For instance, cereals say 10 grams of sugar per 100 grams and 60 grams of carb per 100 grams. OK you know the score, but so many do not realise we are talking 70 grams per 100 grams SUGAR.

First they came for the sugar. Next they will tax the (saturated) fat. All to keep the attention away from all the OTHER carbs.