PH sugar tax could prevent thousands of deaths — WHO

The Philippines could avoid about 24,000 deaths caused by diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, and stroke in the next 20 years after implementing higher taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

A research study by the organization showed that the taxes levied this year could result in lesser consumption of the sugary drinks, which can help avoid nearly 6,000 deaths related to diabetes, over 10,000 from heart diseases, and around 8,000 from stroke over the next two decades.

Good for the public’s health

The high consumption of soft drinks is one of the main drivers of obesity. Backed by their research, WHO believes that the new sugar-sweetened beverage tax could curb the rising obesity rate in the country.

Part of a series of reforms (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law) that aim to fund infrastructure in the country, the taxes mean an increase in the retail prices of sugary beverages. Moreover, this could also potentially yield huge health care savings amounting to about US$627 million and annual revenue of approximately US$813 million.