With an application launched in Canada’s Newfoundland-Labrador province, a “sugar tax” has been imposed on sugary drinks for the first time in the country as of today.
An additional 20 cents (2.8 TL) sales tax per liter has been added to all sugary drinks, including energy drinks, iced teas and those sold in cans, with the application launched by the state government with the slogan “Rethink Your Drink”.
Siobhan Coady, Minister of Finance for the State of Newfoundland-Labrador, said the purpose of the app is to encourage people to make healthier beverage choices.
Noting that excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages may lead to an increase in the risk of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease and deterioration of dental health, Coady stated that the practice is in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization, the Canadian Healthy Eating Strategy and the Canadian Food Guide.
While chocolate milk and pure fruit juices are exempt from the sugar-sweetened beverage tax, this decision was reportedly taken because of school nutrition programs.
The provincial government will transfer the annual tax revenue of 9 million Canadian dollars (approximately 125 million TL) to physical activity programs, prenatal nutrition initiatives and school food programs.
On the other hand, in a study carried out by a group of scientists from the University of Alberta, it was concluded that health problems caused by sugary drinks and foods across Canada bring an annual burden of 5 billion Canadian dollars to the country’s economy.
The research, published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health, pointed out that diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are at the forefront of these problems. (AA)