Higher tax on sweetened beverages expected to reduce public health woes

[yellowboat]

4 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

But the choices for unsweetened or sugar free drinks here are quite limited.

You just put your finger on the problem.  Beer, water and Gatoraide, perhaps others too are the only things that are not overly unhealthy when consumed moderately.  Instead of making this just a win for the government, offer incentives instead of fines.   In China, some restaurants offer large pitures of water with mint and lemon.  It is really good and free.  Tea is free in some places too.  Rice is free too.  In Thailand, nothing is free.   Business acumen is mind numbingly unimaginative.  

[legend49]

5 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

A fine ideal which has the side benefit of increasing the tax base. Not sure it will be the unbridled success the heath bureaucrats hope, smoking has not gone away with this tactic in any country I can think of. Is the next step to blur out sugary drinks on TV and movies?

 

If they want to increase the activity of people to reduce obesity they could try new fat taxes on motor vehicles and fuel, because if people walk rather than use a bike or a car they are less likely to become obese. They will also think twice before going down the street (soi) for some drinks and sugary snacks.

 

All this good work will all come undone when, as the PM predicts, Thailand becomes a country of high earners and they can all afford these punitive taxes.

And we wont mention the American junk food shops that sell basically fat with a hint of food.

[Tony125]

45 minutes ago, Caspersfriend said:

Sugar industry unlikely to be too concerned as many 'sweeteners' are also produced by them; if indirectly. A friend in UK has had a weight problem for many years (obese and diabetic) consumed a two litre bottle of 'coke' every day. Was persuaded to drink 'diet' or 'zero' alternative (with sweeteners to replace the sugar) and put on weight!

Many resent studies  such as the one below show that diet sodas  do not help people to lose weight as the artificial sweetners tend to make people crave sugar. Neither the sugar free drinks or sugar tax has made 1 iota of difference in US obesity numbers.

https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/diet-soda-gain-weight-study

[Jiggo]

I am not worried about this, I'm sweet enough.

[Docno]

25 minutes ago, Grumpy John said:

Let's go back a few decades.....I am not seeing the unending stream of fat people and I am not seeing KFC, McDonald's and all the other fast food outlets.  Maybe there is a link between the two!!!  Sure there has been Thai junk food and sweets, you can see that at any market any day of the week.  The difference is in the marketing.  And maybe how much disposable income people have these days.  Food for thought.

 

14 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

I think that there can be no doubt that there is a link between western fast foods and fatness. It really become apparent to me when I note that I rarely see fat people in the villages and countryside around where I live, but becomes much more prevalent when I go into town, where they have ready access.

 

This is not confined to Thailand either, most countries in the region are showing this same tendency. I recall when I lived in China, Pizza Hut, Big Macs and the like were always doing a roaring trade and with the same results as here.

I have slightly different observations and a different theory. When I first started coming to Thailand 20 years my friends and I remarked how few overweight people we saw despite Thais' love of food. But all that has changed. Even in my girlfriend's village, most of the young women are fat now (not so much the guys). Even my gf has fattened up in the 9 years we've been together. There are no McDonald's or KFCs around for many miles. I instead blame the ubiquitous 7-Elevens with all their ready-made foods, soft drinks, and packaged carbs (chips, chocolate, etc.). My gf and her friends go in for something small and come out loaded up with enough junk food to feed a small army. And they end up snacking on that unhealthy bilge between meals or while socialising.

 

Oh yeah, add to that the fact that they have to ride their motorbike to the damn store when it's only a ten minute walk away...   

[Mitkof Island]

In Laos no 7-11 and they overall seem in better health. When i see the Thais giving coke to three year olds its no wonder they are fat and crazy.

[toofarnorth]

44 minutes ago, transam said:

The twin carb one.......????

You,re thinking of the MG S transam but had a dislecsik moment.  While here transam I think those coffee places that sell lovely cappuccino should now use smaller bags of sugar .

[bkk6060]

This is very new here in the markets.  Tops and Foodland.

Sugar free Sprite.

Never seen it in 10 years in the markets always ordered it online.

[Emdog]

Any chance to increase taxes seems to get government's full attention, then package it as "health promotion"

Here's an idea: Put hefty tax on paraquat and all those nasty herbicides & insecticides that are still in regular use all over.

Sugar is relatively easy to avoid. Not so the very dangerous chemicals used in our food.

[mickey rat]

5 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

I only drink water, black coffee or tea with nothing added. And even with that, weight loss is difficult for me.

Try lowing carb intake. Rice, bread, pizza, etc. 

[johnmcc6]

It has never worked in the u s states that tried it. It is simply a money grab and just another kick to the poor . Make a law nothing can be sold if too much sugar in it. Manufacturers would soon fall in line. These clowns never look past their bank accounts.

[HHTel]

47 minutes ago, happy chappie said:

The people won't  stop buying the drinks,they will just be poorer.the real way is put a limit on how much sugar they contain.

so go after the manufacturers where the problem stems from.

That is exactly what the sugar tax is intended to do.  It has been introduced in the west for some time now and the result is that manufacturer's of these drinks have reduced their sugar content to bring them below the tax threshold.

In the UK, tax collected from the sugar tax is earmarked for school sports programs and the like. That of course is unlikely to happen in Thailand.

 

Of over 20 countries that have introduced sugar tax, manufacturers have been incentivised in reformulating their drinks rather than altering consumer habits.

 

So a sugar tax is a positive step and if manufacturers take note then the revenue from such will reduce over the years.

 

 

[Henryford]

Just an excuse to tax more, like the UK

[overherebc]

1 hour ago, transam said:

The twin carb one.......????

Turbo as well.

[Jip99]

4 minutes ago, Henryford said:

Just an excuse to tax more, like the UK

 

 

So are you saying that you are against taxes on unhealthy products?

Edited September 29, 2019 by Jip99

[Moonlover]

8 minutes ago, Docno said:

 

I have slightly different observations and a different theory. When I first started coming to Thailand 20 years my friends and I remarked how few overweight people we saw despite Thais' love of food. But all that has changed. Even in my girlfriend's village, most of the young women are fat now (not so much the guys). Even my gf has fattened up in the 9 years we've been together. There are no McDonald's or KFCs around for many miles. I instead blame the ubiquitous 7-Elevens with all their ready-made foods, soft drinks, and packaged carbs (chips, chocolate, etc.). My gf and her friends go in for something small and come out loaded up with enough junk food to feed a small army. And they end up snacking on that unhealthy bilge between meals or while socialising.

 

Oh yeah, add to that the fact that they have to ride their motorbike to the damn store when it's only a ten minute walk away...   

You do, indeed make some very valid points. And in some cases, they don't even have to leave the village. Our nearest 7/11 is 8 kilometers away, but it's no problem. Even the local village store has stock of this junk.

 

There are 3 cases of obesity in our village (pop 500). Two of them are young boys under 6 years. They main issues, from my observation are rice, potato chips and coca cola, all obtained locally.

 

 

[Millcx]

5 hours ago, quadperfect said:

Reading stuff like this confirms that the government here really does think there population cant think. 

It’s a good giggle for Sunday morning ... Actually every day I laugh at the reports online “;0) 

[digger70]

7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The government expects its decision to levy higher taxes on sugary drinks from next month will help improve the health of Thai people.

What a load of rot that is.If people want to eat more or less Sugar ,Alcohol ,Smokes ,drugs It's going to make No difference, They will spend more money  and get in Debt sooner and deeper. 

[david555]

Bu..sh..t…! Thailand Gov. is craping money together wherever they can find ….seems they expect the same as we already warning for , even they have a strong baht …. strong currency only good for importing , not for exporting 

[transam]

46 minutes ago, Jip99 said:

 

 

So are you saying that you are against taxes on unhealthy products?

Most stuff is OK in moderation. If an individual has a ploblem controlling what he /she likes, then there lay the ploblem.

I think it is unfair to raise a tax just because of those who cannot control themselves to those that can paying more is a bit unfair in my opinion..

 

Elephants don't have a ploblem overloading on sugar though...????

[Burma Bill]

Being a Type 2 diabetic, it would be nice for me to see such products in the photo below on Thai supermarket shelves, along with fresh fruit, vegetables and meat. 

 

[Jip99]

1 minute ago, transam said:

Most stuff is OK in moderation. If an individual has a ploblem controlling what he /she likes, then there lay the ploblem.

I think it is unfair to raise a tax just because of those who cannot control themselves to those that can paying more is a bit unfair in my opinion..

 

Elephants don't have a ploblem overloading on sugar though...????

 

 

I can't agree that the rate of tax should be the same for, say, sugary sodas, clothing, vegetables and whore-mongering.

[Jonnapat]

Surely using less sweeteners would be more useful than a tax which no one will take any notice of. Many products in Thailand are much too sweet for my taste anyway.

[canuckamuck]

1 hour ago, Docno said:

 

I have slightly different observations and a different theory. When I first started coming to Thailand 20 years my friends and I remarked how few overweight people we saw despite Thais' love of food. But all that has changed. Even in my girlfriend's village, most of the young women are fat now (not so much the guys). Even my gf has fattened up in the 9 years we've been together. There are no McDonald's or KFCs around for many miles. I instead blame the ubiquitous 7-Elevens with all their ready-made foods, soft drinks, and packaged carbs (chips, chocolate, etc.). My gf and her friends go in for something small and come out loaded up with enough junk food to feed a small army. And they end up snacking on that unhealthy bilge between meals or while socialising.

 

Oh yeah, add to that the fact that they have to ride their motorbike to the damn store when it's only a ten minute walk away...   

Yeah I don't think the American style fast food is as big a problem as people say. For every MacDonald's there are 10,000 food carts serving up sugary fat, simple carb, low nutrition servings, in styrofoam and a plastic bag too. And 7/11's are a real draw. They have almost nothing in the store that can be considered healthy, but there is always a line up. And there's one or two every block in the city.

Even in our little village, there are maybe 40 houses, but there are 7 or 8 shops, all with the same highly processed <deleted> injected with a flavor or two so they resemble food. Even the poor kids get 5 baht every day for canom (sweets). Some schools have vendors inside with contracts to load the kids up with high sugar drinks and other snacks. There is good money in it too. Lots of Thai kids have never even been in a MacDonald's.

[DPKANKAN]

2 hours ago, Caspersfriend said:

Sugar industry unlikely to be too concerned as many 'sweeteners' are also produced by them; if indirectly. A friend in UK has had a weight problem for many years (obese and diabetic) consumed a two litre bottle of 'coke' every day. Was persuaded to drink 'diet' or 'zero' alternative (with sweeteners to replace the sugar) and put on weight!

Well obviously the rest of his diet was wrong!!!! 12 years ago I started a diet, in the UK, which also introduced me to coke zero. I lost 3 stone and I still drink coke zero here in Thailand and am still 3 stones lighter!????????????????

[canuckamuck]

1 hour ago, mickey rat said:

Try lowing carb intake. Rice, bread, pizza, etc. 

Trust me carb intake is low. I eat mostly meat these days. It just takes more effort for me to lose weight than for most folks. I am fairly close to my goal though.

[Captain 776]

WHO....... is coming up with these new fantasies every week?

 

Every week another crazy scheme............starting to sound like the far lefffffft democRATS in USA.

No more beef.

No more oil

No more air travel.

No more fossil fuel ......anything.

70% income tax for all.......execept them of course

90% income tax on business

No more private medical insurance

[transam]

1 minute ago, Captain 776 said:

WHO....... is coming up with these new fantasies every week?

 

Every week another crazy scheme............starting to sound like the far lefffffft democRATS in USA.

No more beef.

No more oil

No more air travel.

No more fossil fuel ......anything.

70% income tax for all.......execept them of course

90% income tax on business

No more private medical insurance

They have to spout something on regular basis because of their pay scale...????

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

She said there could be more hikes if manufacturers fail to reduce sugar content in beverages.

So why not hit the manufactures direct and give the consumer a healthy choice at an affordable price ?

Edited September 29, 2019 by hotchilli

[jany123]

The only way increased tax’s will help the “public health woes” caused by sugar, will be if the taxes realized are plowed back into the public health care services.

summary... lol.. no change expected.