THE LEAD ARTICLE in the last Weekend Nation (6/30/2017) shows what some in the business community think of the government’s attempts to reduce the consumption of sweetened beverages by the “sweetened beverage tax” (SBT), first introduced in the 2015 national budget.
At least one company is willing to bet “millions of dollars” that government’s efforts are not likely to succeed.
Of course, the government would claim success in securing the jobs of 50 individuals, helping our employment situation.
But they should reflect, as the Minister of Finance noted after the SBT was first introduced, that the consumption of these beverages has rtnot lessened one year after the ten per cent tax was first introduced.
If genuine efforts are to be made to improve the health (at the same time lowering government’s health care bill), then yet “another tax” alone is not likely to achieve the health benefits that we so desperately need.
– DR COLIN ALERT
