Why South Africa should resist the power of Big Sugar

The proposed tax on sweetened drinks will help improve public health despite overwrought opposition from industry.

- Rob Moodie

THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT’S decision to tax sugary drinks to help cut excess sugar consumption, which is contributing to burgeoning epidemics of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, follows the lead of Mexico and the US city of Berkeley, where a “soda tax” on sugar sweetened beverages has shown positive results.

In Mexico, research predicts a win-win outcome: it may greatly decrease disease and death from diabetes and cardiovascular disease while reducing health care costs.

What can be expected in South Africa is overwrought and highly emotive opposition from the sugary drink industry.

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa chairman Phil Gutsche denounces the sugar tax as murderous and discriminatory.

This opposition to an effective measure to protect and improve the public’s health occurs in the context of a sevendecade battle between public health (David) and unhealthy industries (Goliaths). During that time the tobacco, junk food, sugar-sweetened beverage and alcohol industries have become the drivers of the major non-communicable diseases (cancers, lung disease, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases) that now dominate the global health landscape.

The junk food, sugary drink and alcohol industries claim to be part of the solution. The solution requires them to help improve their consumers’ health by decreasing advertising to children, reducing levels of salt, fat and sugar in their products, and labelling food honestly and clearly. These are all measures they are convinced are in conflict with their responsibility to make money for their shareholders.