How taxing soft drink can help stop obesity related illness – Whiteboard Friday

In February our Health Minister Jonathan Coleman claimed that soft drink taxes wouldn’t work, a claim that was repeated by former Revenue Minister Peter Dunne in the recent Sunday expose on the impact of sugar on our teeth and waistlines.

Sorry, Ministers, but you are just plain wrong.

We’ve seen the impact of taxation on cigarette smoking, and we are seeing the positive impact that junk food taxes has in Mexico Such a policy is doable, and would have a positive impact on our health. For those that continue to eat poorly, such a tax can be seen as them paying for the costs they will impose on our health system in coming years.

How taxing soft drink can help stop obesity related illness – Whiteboard Friday was last modified: September 5th, 2016 by Gareth Morgan

About the Author

Gareth Morgan

Gareth Morgan is a New Zealand economist and commentator on public policy who in previous lives has been in business as an economic consultant, funds manager, and professional company director. He is also a motorcycle adventurer and philanthropist. Gareth and his wife Joanne have a charitable foundation, the Morgan Foundation, which has three main stands of philanthropic endeavour – public interest research, conservation and social investment.