Australians support junk food tax, Obesity Policy Coalition says

The majority of Australians support taxing soft drinks and junk food, the Obesity Policy Coalition claims, particularly if the money raised is used to reduce the cost of healthy foods.

The organisation surveyed more than 1200 adults in 2012, finding that 64% of those surveyed were in favour of a tax on soft drinks to help reduce the cost of healthy food for low income earners - and 42% of those surveyed were strongly in favour.

In addition, more than half (57%) of respondents were in favour of a tax being raised if it was spent on health programs, as is the case in Mexico.

In Mexico, a bill imposing an 8% tax on high-calorie food and a tax of one peso per litre of sugary soft drinks has progressed through the Mexican congress. The Obesity Policy Coalition is calling for Australia to follow Mexico’s lead to address the growing incidence of overweight and obese people in our society.

“More than 60% of Australian adults and 25% of children are currently overweight or obese, and we know that sugary drinks and other high-energy, nutrient-poor products are a major contributor to the problem,” said Jane Martin, Executive Manager of the Obesity Policy Coalition.

“Public approval of a tax on unhealthy foods or soft drink is already similar or stronger than the public approval of tobacco taxation policies at the time they were implemented.

“We know with other public health issues, such as tobacco control, price can be an effective deterrent when applied to products which result in risks to health. Aggressive pricing strategies from soft drink manufacturers means sugary drinks are often cheaper than bottled water or milk.

“We believe using tax to increase the price of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and junk food should be investigated in Australia as part of a comprehensive approach to the obesity problem. We would also suggest investigating the potential for revenue raised to be used to offset the cost of healthy food for those on low income. If people then chose the healthier alternatives, in this model, their grocery bills could in fact become cheaper.

“If people can be encouraged through education, price and availability, to choose healthier options which may prevent them from developing serious health issues associated with over-consumption of sugary drinks and highly processed foods, then that can only be a good thing.”

The Obesity Policy Coalition is a partnership between Diabetes Australia - Vic, Cancer Council Victoria and the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention at Deakin University, with funding from VicHealth.