When was the sugar tax imposed?

Oakland, California A one-cent-per-ounce soda tax (Measure HH) passed with over 60% of the vote on 8 November 2016. The tax went into effect on 1 July 2017.

Is there a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages?

No state currently has an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. Tax rates are 1 cent per ounce in all four California jurisdictions, 1.5 cents per ounce in Philadelphia, 1.75 cents per ounce in Seattle, and 2 cents per ounce in Boulder.

Who started the sugar tax?

The first sugar tax on soft drinks was implemented in Hungary in 2011, part of a wider tax on pre-packed sweetened products, salty snacks and condiments, followed by France in 2012, charging manufacturers the equivalent of an extra 6p per litre for any beverage containing added sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Does Australia tax sugary drinks?

The AMA proposes Australia implement a tax of A$0.40 per 100 grams of sugar (per unit of product). This tax rate is consistent with global recommendations that price increases of at least 20% are needed to have a meaningful health effect.

Is the sugar tax only on drinks?

The sugar tax is a levy put on drinks companies to crack down on high sugar levels in soft drinks. Companies are now taxed according to the sugar content of their wares. One is for drinks with a total sugar content of more than 5g per 100ml, while a second, higher levy is imposed on drinks with 8g per 100ml or more.

Why Australia should not have a sugar tax?

One of the most common arguments used to oppose taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages is that such taxes are regressive, and it is unfair to make poorer people pay a larger share of their limited incomes to consume these products, when compared to wealthier people.

Why are sugary drinks taxed?

A tax on sugary drinks can help: Raises revenue for important programs like healthier food in schools, increasing access to healthy food for low income people, initiatives to prevent diabetes and other chronic diseases, education campaigns about sugary drinks and healthy eating, and universal pre-k.

Should Australia tax sugar sweetened beverages?

The obesity-related price policy that has received the most attention in Australia to date is a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Such taxes have been shown to reduce consumption of SSBs, which is associated with weight loss. Taxes can also encourage manufacturers to reformulate SSBs to reduce sugar content.

How a sugar tax may benefit the Australian healthcare system AHCS?

Twenty five years after the introduction of the tax, there would be 4,400 fewer cases of heart disease and 1,100 fewer strokes. An estimated 1,600 people would be alive as a result of the tax. Overall, the savings to the health-care system would add up to A$609 million.

Does Australia have a sugar tax?

The AMA proposes Australia implement a tax of A$0.40 per 100 grams of sugar (per unit of product). These taxes can incentivise people to switch to healthier (lower sugar) substitutes while simultaneously incentivising manufacturers to reformulate their products (lowering the sugar content) to avoid a higher tax rate.

What drinks are exempt from sugar tax?

A soft drink that contains 5-8g of sugar per 100ml is taxed at 18p per litre, with a sugary drink above 8g per 100ml being taxed at 24p per litre. Fruit juices and milk-based drinks are currently exempt from the taxes on the grounds that their sugar is naturally occurring.

Is the sugar tax effective in Australia?

Benefits of an Australian tax on sugar-sweetened beverages The results show that a 20% tax on SSBs would result in an average 12.6% decline in daily consumption of SSBs, and a decline in obesity of 2.7% in men and 1.2% in women over a lifetime.

Is the 20% tax on sugary drinks Good?

A 20% health levy on sugary drinks is an effective tool for reducing consumption and tackling high rates of overweight and obesity. But the sugary drinks industry is against the idea.

How much free sugar is consumed in Australia?

In 2011–12, Australians aged two years and older consumed an average of 60 grams of free sugar per day (14 teaspoons), with 52% of this free sugar coming from sugary drinks. 4 Australians are high per-capita consumers of SSBs, and consumption is highest among young men aged 18–24 years. 5

Is the sugary drinks industry against the levy?

But the sugary drinks industry is against the idea. In this video, Obesity Policy Coalition Executive Manager Jane Martin debunks the industry’s myths with credible evidence of why Australia needs a health levy on sugary drinks.

What are the benefits of a sugar tax?

The tax would generate an estimated AUD400 million in revenue each year. Governments should consider increasing the tax on sugared drinks. This would improve population health, reduce health care costs, as well as bring in direct revenue.