Sugar Sweetened Drinks Tax in Ireland
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So it appears less Irish people will "taste the feeling" of sugary beverages after the introduction and implementation of "sugary drinks tax". The tax regime has been kick started on the 1st of May, 2018, following the approval of the European Union on the 24th of April, 2018.
"The new sugar tax, officially named the Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Tax (SSTD) is primarily enacted because of the Irish government's drive to curtailing obesity. The drive to curtail obesity head since gained prominence after the World Health Organization (WHO) in a 2016 study said that obesity more than doubled worldwide between 1980 and 2014 to more than 500million people. It is further said that a 20% hike in sugar drinks could cut consumption by the same proportion"
Ireland is not the first country to embark on this obesity countering journey. The United Kingdom, similarly, implemented what is known in official parlance as the Soft Drinks Industrial Levy, and pundits are predicting such hiked taxes to be adopted by more European countries, mainly due to the nutritional content gain prominence.
Within the scope of this sugary drinks tax, fruit and vegetable will not be included, well, except sugar is added. Also the scope doesn't encompass soya nut, cereal or seed based milk substitute drinks.
Excluded from this tax also are alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beer and wine.
Now, while other drink manufacturers whose products fall within the scope of this tax have been taking steps to change the chemical composition of their products to fall outside the scope of the SSTD, Coca Cola have stated expressly that they will not change, rather there will be price increase for those who still want to "taste the feeling".
On a lighter note, I would like to recommend the introduction of "zobo" and "kunu" tax in Nigeria...
References:
https://wikivisually.com/wiki/Sugary_drink_tax
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/sugar-tax-to-come-into-effect-next-week-1.3473163?mode=amp
I think this is a good move by the authorities. A healthy people is a healthy nation. A step in right direction.
Coo-coo will never change. They should better implement this sugar sweetened drinks tax in Nigeria. @fisteganos please don't even go to my kunu o. I love kunu so much that I even made a post about it. Interestingly enough, it helps reduce cholesterol levels and very great for diabetic patients and so kunu doesn't fall under this category.
Abi?
Anyway, Its always great to implement systems that solves issues.
What's abi? Zobo and kunu are not sugar sweetened drinks. most of them use natural flavours as sweetners and even when sugar is used it is always minimal and the nutritional value of other components outweighs the sugar.
Actually I find this regulation right and logical. Maybe because of the higher price the people may quit or at least reduce the consumption of this high sugar leve drinks. Or the companies shall be reducing the extra sugar from their products. Obesity is increasing in the world day by day. We should change some harmful habits of us..
Most companies would not reduce the level of sugar in their drinks because if you take a critical look at it, most people that patronize it do so because of the sugar. There is a reason why zero Coke doesn't sellas much as the other come that contains sugar but implementing it is a good thing as people will be discouraged to buy more of the products. People don't like paying taxes....lol especially when you have an option.
Zobo and Kunu? Please, this movement will not stand o 😂😂. I take at least one of them every Sunday...even if they implement tax, I will gladly pay. Hahaha but Zobo and Kunu didn't fall under that category sha. I've always known Coca Cola would not change because they know people will still buy, even with increment and tax implementation.