Curb sugary drinks consumption - AHHA

Government action is urgently needed to curb the consumption of sugary drinks in Australia, according to the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA).

Releasing a position statement on sugar-sweetened drinks at the National Primary Health Care Conference in Melbourne, AHHA Chief Executive Alison Verhoeven (pictured) said: “Our consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is among the highest in the world, with Australians and New Zealanders consuming an average of 76 litres of these drinks per person every year - that’s simply way too much".

The Association called on Australian governments to develop and fund evidence based measures aimed at reducing consumption of these drinks. This could include taxing sugar-sweetened beverages; restricting sales in hospitals and schools; stronger advertising restrictions, especially during children’s television viewing times; mandatory front of package “healthy star” labeling; and public awareness campaigns.

The Australian Dental Association supports the Rethink Sugary Drink campaign.

Sugar-sweetened drink taxes have already been introduced in Mexico, France, Norway, Chile, Finland, Hungary, St Helena, Mauritius, French Polynesia, Samoa, Tonga and 33 states in the USA. The UK is introducing a 20% sugar tax in April 2018. The Grattan Institute has just released a report which sets out options and recommendations for such a tax.