A tax on sugary drinks is a step towards making South Africans healthier, according to wellbeing experts.
Sugar is blamed for obesity and an increased risk for lifestyle diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. These conditions are a heavy burden on the country’s health system.
The sugar industry will engage closely with government on plans to introduce a sugar tax on sugary drinks, the South African Sugar Association told Health24.
The proposed tax, to be introduced from 1 April 2017, will be levied on sugar-sweetened beverages such as:
Soft drinks;
Fruit juices;
Sports/energy drinks;
Vitamin waters;
Sweetened ice tea;
Lemonade;
Cordials; and
Squashes.
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