In its presentation prior to the budget, the Medical Association of Australia warned that obesity had overcome tobacco as the main cause of preventable death in Australia.
The body wants a tax on sugary drinks at a rate of 50 cents per 100 grams of sugar, which would increase the price of an average can of 375 ml of soft drinks for 20 cents.
The president of the AMA, Dr. Danielle McMullen, said that Australia was “far behind the ball of eight, it is not fun” by taxing the sugar.
“The United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Chile, Catalonia in Spain, several states in the United States, these are just some of the jurisdictions in which sugar consumption decreased after a sugar tax was implemented,” McMullen said.
“We have been pressing for a tax on sugary drinks for many years, but governments continue to kick the can on the road, all while Australia’s problems with obesity and chronic diseases get more and more worse.”
McMullen said that obesity would cost the Australian health system $ 38 billion in the next four years if no measures were taken.
Where Australia is located in countries with the greatest liberties of health
It contributes to diabetes, heart disease and stroke, among other dangerous and mortal conditions.
“Our proposal for a Tax on sugary drinks would reduce the annual consumption of sugar in 2 kg per person, while collecting $ 3.6 billion in government revenues on term estimates, funds that could be invested in crucial measures of preventive health,” said McMullen.
“From health and economic perspective, it is much better to prevent obesity in the first place than to manage it once it is rooted.”
