John Lahart
Question:557. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health to report on the outcomes of having taxed sugar drinks; and whether any detailed research has been carried out into the outcomes. [5539/24]
View answerWednesday, 7 February 2024
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A Healthy Weight for Ireland, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), was launched in September 2016 under the auspices of the Healthy Ireland Framework (Healthy Ireland: A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025). It was developed in recognition of the growing need for a coordinated policy response to the increasing problem of obesity in Ireland and the increasing burden placed on individuals and society.
OPAP covers a 10-year period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications, and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. It recognises that obesity is a complex, multi-faceted problem and needs a multi-pronged solution, with every sector of society playing its part. Childhood obesity is a key priority under OPAP, as is reducing the inequalities seen in obesity rates, where children (and adults) from lower socioeconomic groups have higher levels of obesity. OPAP is well aligned with the World Health Organisation in terms of the breadth of policy measures that have been introduced or are being considered in order to address the obesity epidemic.
Under OPAP, commitment was given to “develop proposals for a levy on sugar-sweetened drinks”, and “review the evidence…for fiscal measures on products that are high in fat, sugar and salt.”
Following a proposal developed by this Department in consultation with stakeholders, the Department of Finance introduced the Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Tax (SSDT) in 2018. The SSDT has now been in operation for more than five years. Initial indications are that the tax has had a positive impact, particularly in terms of encouraging drinks producers to reduce the sugar content in their products.
In August 2023 the Department sought tenders for an external evaluation of the SSDT with the outcomes of interest to include any one, or all, of the following:
- the extent to which the tax was successful in realizing the objectives as stated in the original policy document and set out below:
(1) that individuals reduce consumption of sugar sweetened drinks by reducing the amount consumed or switching to healthier choices.
(2) that industry reformulates products to reduce (not necessarily remove) levels of added sugar in the drinks products.
- other impacts that the tax may have on public health as identified by recent studies, such as evaluations of dental outcomes and also the measurement of the impact on metabolic markers.
A contract for the evaluation was awarded in September 2023. The evaluation is ongoing, and we expect it to be complete in April 2024. The Department intends to publish it in a timely manner.