The Thailand government is anticipating an improvement in its people’s health as its decision to levy higher taxes on sugary drinks will hit the floor tomorrow.
The government introduced higher taxes on beverages with high sugar content in September 2017, whereas another hike takes effect on October 1 2019.
“The main objectives of collecting higher taxes on sugar-based beverages were: to motivate producers and importers of beverages to adjust the production formula or to make healthy alternative products with an appropriate amount of sugar at 6 grams per 100 millilitres of beverage; to increase government revenue; to reduce consumption of sugary beverages; and, to reduce chronic non-communicable diseases and dental problems of Thai people,” said Department of Health director-general Panphimon Wipulakorn.
More hikes are expected if manufacturers fail to reduce sugar content in beverages.
The Thai government also launched campaigns to educate people to reduce consumption of foods and beverages that have high sugar content; and it is also working on a law to remove sugar from baby food products.
