New research sparks call for a tax on sugary drinks
A team of researchers have called for a tax on sugary drinks after finding such a levy could prevent more than 500,000 dental cavities and improve general health in 20 years.
The Monash University-led study, published today in the journal Health Economics, found a 20% sugar-sweetened beverage tax – known as an SSB tax – could deliver communities $63.5 million in overall cost savings.
Research conducted with Deakin University and the University of Melbourne calculated a direct healthcare saving of $42.2 million, accounting for 510,997 decayed teeth and 98.1 disability adjusted life years.
The latter is a measure of healthy life lost through premature death or disability due to illness or injury averted.
Under a lifetime scenario for the current population until death, overall societal cost-savings were $176.6 million, and direct healthcare savings $122.5 million, with 1,309,211 decayed teeth and 254.9 disability-adjusted life years averted.
“Our study demonstrates a 20% tax is cost-effective [in order] to prevent dental [cavities] and is likely to increase health equity because the cost-savings and health benefits occur for populations from lower socioeconomic advantage,” the authors found.
But convincing sugary drink producers and governments to implement such a tax was a “major barrier”, the authors conceded.
Study co-author Tan Nguyen, an oral health therapist and Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine PhD candidate, said SSB taxes had increased prices and decreased consumption internationally.
“The major contributors impacting quality of life due to oral diseases are tooth decay, advanced gum disease, and severe tooth loss caused mostly by caries and gum disease,” Nguyen said.
“Poor oral health is highly prevalent in the Australian population and impacts mostly on vulnerable people.”
The impact of unhealthy food and beverages on the population is in the spotlight once again after independent MP and doctor Sophia Scamps last month introduced a bill into parliament calling for most junk food advertising to be banned.
The proposed regulations would ban junk food ads from TV and radio between 6am and 9.30pm, as well as seeking to remove marketing on social media and other online platforms entirely.
“We know our children are exposed to over 800 junk food ads on TV alone every year, and that there is a direct link between those ads and childhood obesity,” Scamps said at the time.
“The current restrictions are not strong enough, and self-regulation is just not working.”
More than 40 countries have regulations in place when it comes to advertising unhealthy food products.
A survey conducted by the Food for Health Alliance in partnership with Cancer Council Victoria found 76% support a blanket ban on online marketing that targets kids.
And separate research by independent thinktank The Australia Institute found two-thirds of survey respondents are in favour of regulating junk food advertising.
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