Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021
807. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 788 and 789 of 17 February 2021, the status of the evaluation currently underway of the sugar-sweetened drinks tax; when details of the tax are due to be completed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11347/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Tax was introduced on 1 May 2018, and has thus now been in operation for nearly three years. The introduction of the tax was an important action in the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, with the aims of reducing consumption of added sugar in drinks and encouraging reformulation of products by the drinks industry.
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. However, a more comprehensive analysis of the impact of the tax is needed.
The first step in this process was to look at existing examples that could inform the methodology to assess the impacts of the tax. This work is underway. Allied to this, information has been gathered on existing datasets that could be analysed as part of the assessment of the impact of the tax. The literature review and data scoping exercise will enable the Department to make an assessment of the potential approaches to evaluate the impact of the tax and the timelines and resources required for the evaluation.
