“Highlight Negative Effects Of Added Sugar”

January 6, 2018

“The increased risk of obesity and diabetes is directly linked to the increased amount of sugary drinks that are consumed every day,” Bermuda Diabetes Association Chairperson Debbie Jones said, adding that a “sugar tax will highlight the negative effects of added sugar.”

Her comments follow after the Ministry of Health launched a public consultation on the proposed implementation of a sugar tax that will “apply to the importation of sugar, candies, sodas and other beverages with added sugar into Bermuda.”

In the Ministry’s consultation document they state, “Bermuda’s prevalence of obesity and diabetes is one of the highest amongst the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, 34.4% of adults are obese and 12.2% have type 2 diabetes.”

“The cost of diabetes care over the next 10 years is estimated to be $26 million in health insurance claims alone, excluding out of pocket payments, the impact on other conditions, wages and hours of lost work.”

In response to the planned consultation, Ms Jones told Bernews, “Excess sugar can be toxic, especially to children. The increased risk of obesity and diabetes is directly linked to the increased amount of sugary drinks that are consumed every day according to David Ludwig of the Harvard School of Public Health.

“Obesity and diabetes are increasing at an alarming rate and the costs associated with this increase are crippling the health care budget.

“A sugar tax will cause much dialogue and therefore apart from raising funds that can support educational activities will have the desired effect of raising awareness of why it is better to drink water than soda and sugary drinks that are full of empty calories.

“There is now the evidence that type 2 diabetes can be prevented and reversed by eating lots of vegetables, exercising every day and drinking water. A sugar tax will highlight the negative effects of added sugar.”

The consultation will run for eight weeks ending on 1st March 2018, and you can respond to the questions online here, and read the full consultation document below.

The Sugar Tax Consultation Document follows below [PDF here]

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Comments (20)

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  1. Malachi says:

    If it’s my health you’re concerned about why not simply ban all products with “extra” sugar??
    From my observations, us humans will simply pay the extra cost to get the “extra” sugar.
    I would imagine there would be a new position(s?) created for someone to decide which products meet this new criteria? More Government expense?

    • Onion Juice says:

      Would you lower de price for organic food?

      • Zevon says:

        Burt talks about bringing down prices and then adds taxes to food.
        OJ, this government will never reduce the price of anything. Ever.
        The only thing they will ever do is add more taxes.

  2. Your joking says:

    Is this tax going to be used to make fruit and veg cheaper?????….. because and Apple at at $1.99 Is probably why most don’t eat healthy……other wise this tax is just a government money grab and nothing else

    • Ringmaster says:

      You know the answer, but for others that don’t this is purely a money grab under the pretense of being healthy. Being healthy would have Government subsidies on healthy food, but there is no money for that. Next will ba additional tax on salty foods, mayonnaise, fried foods, frozen meals – everything the lower paid Bermudian probably eats. So increase the cost of living while paying lip service to price controls and lower costs.

      • jt says:

        Mayonnaise? You haven’t seen protests…divided we fall etc.

  3. Mary says:

    Where are the jobs ….. why the silence ?

  4. Jus' Askin' says:

    PLP who are your advisers ?
    FIRE THEM!!!!!

    SUGAR IS NOT THE ENEMY!!!!!

    If You eat or
    C onsume
    R efined
    A rtificial and/or
    P rocessed

    You will be unhealthy :-(

  5. Beverley C says:

    This is a Revenue raiser. Nothing more.

  6. Mrs Brady says:

    Will there also be a tax on actual sugar or just added sugar? How will you define added sugar vs naturally occurring sugar? How about candy bars which are profoundly sugar? Lastly, don’t mess with my chocolate please!

  7. Real Deal says:

    I don think this is a good idea until the alternative are cheaper.
    i dont eat a lot of sugar except for candy but i think people should be allowed to kill themselves if they want to or cant afford to not do otherwise. not every only like coffee and needs the sugar to get through the day.

    • Truth says:

      “I don’t eat a lot of sugar except for candy…” that’s funny. I’m kinda that way too.

      I agree, if we chose to consume things that are bad for us, we should have to pay a tax for them to cover our healthcare. This tax is OPTIONAL. We don’t have to pay it. Look at cigarettes – if I want to smoke, I need to help pay for the lung cancer I get later on. Or, I can choose not to smoke. My choice.

      Look people, if 75% of our island was suffering from any other kind of illness brought on by our environment, we would be doing whatever we could to stop it.

      • Truth says:

        “I don’t eat a lot of sugar except for candy…” that’s funny. I’m kinda that way too.

        I agree, if we chose to consume things that are bad for us, we should have to pay a tax for them to cover our healthcare. This tax is OPTIONAL. We don’t have to pay it. Look at cigarettes – if I want to smoke, I need to help pay for the lung cancer I get later on. Or, I can choose not to smoke. My choice.

        Look people, if 75% of our island was suffering from any other kind of illness brought on by our environment, we would be doing whatever we could to stop it.

  8. Moonbeam says:

    If people want sugar, they will pay the price for it ! A sugar tax will only serve to raise the cost of these goods, because the merchant will have to pass it on to the consumer. It will also result in extra costs for Government to implement it. The onus is on the individuals, who need to take charge of their own personal health.

  9. thumper says:

    Just cannot stay out of our wallets…always looking for ways to take what is ours…well…you voted for them….

  10. Mary says:

    What about all the folks lined up at yo cherry will they pay a tax ?

  11. Coffee says:

    Sugar and spice and everything nice , that’s what girls are made of ….. Women and girls will be severely taxed above all else … Fight the Tax .. Fight the Tax !

  12. aceboy says:

    The 300lbs lady that scoffed at me for having a soda supports this!

  13. Uh... says:

    I try to be mindful of what I consume these days. Gave up soda for water, gave up alcohol, and quit smoking. One item on the proposed list floored me. Coffee-Mate. Are you kidding me. I started substituting the milk in my coffee with Coffee-Mate because I am trying to watch my cholesterol. 23 mg of cholesterol in my Dunkley Dairy milk, Coffee-Mate Original 0. It even states on the back of the label that it does not contain a significant source of sugar. I do not need or want my government micro managing my life. I am fully capable of doing that all by myself.

  14. So this is price control…..

    Also another foreign realtor…selling and renting Bermuda housing……

    Rather confusing don’t you think?