There is a clear relationship between soft drink consumption and obesity and diabetes. Diabetes is an irreversible disease that has become the leading cause of death in countries like Mexico.
In fact, it is proven that the consumption of soft drinks can lead to diabetes, without the person becoming obese. There is no other product on the market that, due to its high consumption and high caloric concentration, is associated with obesity and diabetes, like soft drinks.
Various soft drink regulations have been promoted in various nations: withdrawing them from schools, taxes, reducing their packaging, etc. One of the most developed measures to face the high consumption of soft drinks has been the taxation of this beverage.
soft drink taxes
These taxes can raise enough resources to promote public policies that manage to modify what scientists call the obesigenic environment. The tax can be used to install drinking fountains in schools, public spaces and, primarily, in low-income communities. Also, the money collected can be used to face the high costs that obesity-associated diseases bring with them.
The public health system in many countries is often overwhelmed by obesity and diabetes. Health insurance beneficiaries are sometimes not covered for dialysis. Resources are needed to offer health services that until now weighed heavily on patients’ pockets, which is leading tens of thousands of families to the financial crisis. In many cases, patients cannot afford to pay for these services and die.
The other objective of the tax is to reduce the consumption of the population, however, the tax would have to be high enough to impact the regular consumer who already has a strong habit or even an addiction.
It would be desirable for the resources to be used to provide access to purified water to schools and the poorest communities in the country, so that there is an alternative to the consumption of soft drinks, which has become a means of hydration for many low-income people.