SMOKING and sweet tooth – these are two major health-related behaviours of Malaysians that have become the target of government intervention for a healthier society.Statistically, 10 Malaysians die daily from lung cancer with smoking as the leading risk factor, and one in two is obese, a condition attributed to high intake of sugar coupled with a sedentary lifestyle.Therefore, introducing a ban on public smoking and taxing sweet beverages should be a move in the right direction. On the former, the ban is expected to not only stop people from smoking, it would also protect the public from the harm of second-hand smoke. That is why, when the ban was enforced on Jan 1, it received widespread support from the public.However, the same boisterous public support was nowhere to be found when the tax on sugar was first announced. The responses remain mixed and many, expert and public alike, are questioning the effectiveness of the new tax in addressing the obesity problem plaguing Malaysia.
But to reject the tax altogether because Malaysians are unwilling to renounce their sweet tooth is a lazy compromise. Imposing the sugar tax is not the perfect solution but it is a great start. Perhaps it will not change the individual’s behaviour but it will certainly force manufacturers to start reducing the sugar content in their products or making a switch to a lower glycaemic index sweetener.This was proven in Britain where, during the two-year gap between announcement and implementation of the sugar tax, 50% of drinks by volume had enough sugar removed to no longer be affected by the levy. Faced with a possible expenditure increase, any corporation would move towards a direction that would alleviate the added burden.
The same effect is anticipated from manufacturers of soft drinks and juices affected by the new tax. Fraser & Neave (F&N) has expressed interest for more research and development (R&D) efforts to introduce beverages below the taxable criteria as the tax will affect up to 80% of the company’s beverage products. Nestle has made the same commitment, prior to the tax announcement, to reduce sugar content in their Milo products by 5% by 2020.So, the next time the sugar tax is up for public debate, all I’m asking is for Malaysians to try to see the issue from another perspective.The tax might not deter an individual from adding another spoonful of sugar into his/her coffee, but it will help drive the R&D on more healthier consumer products and increase consumer choices.
The government should also allow enough time before the implementation of the tax. Research and product development will take time.To large corporations, extend your hand out to the academic institutions. Research on low-glycaemic sweeteners has been around for some time and you might find your solution in one of the theses compiled neatly in one of the universities’ library.Perhaps this sugar tax is the missing link we’ve all been looking for in enhancing collaborations between the industry and academia – a little sweetness to sweeten the deal.
SITI AISYAH MOHD ZAMAN
Kuching
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2019/02/25/reimagining-impact-of-the-sugar-tax/#15Fw2sPeqFI7EOiX.99
