Research confirms sweet tax can lead to behaviour change

President of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB) Inc., Kevin Farmer lauds the lead taken
by the Government of Barbados as an exemplar of how governments and civil society in the region must tackle the high incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as a result of  high sugar consumption in its population.

This, following the implementation of a 20 per cent excise  tax on sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) in Barbados which went into effect on April 1 .

According to Farmer, Policy can and must pave the way for a healthier population.

He says:“The increase in the tax must be seen as part of a multi-pronged approach to reducing obesity and NCDs which is well aligned with the rehabilitation programme run by HSFB since its inception.”

Scientific data shows that the consumption of SSBs contributes significantly to an individual’s sugar intake without adding any nutritional value to diet.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), fiscal policies that lead to at least a 20 per cent increase in the retail price of sugary drinks would result in proportional reductions in consumption of such products.

HSFB’s President points out that the local and global data suggest that the implementation of an SSB tax has been successful in changing behavioural practices. He says, HSFB applauds this signal by government and looks forward to the implementation of other evidence-based policies and initiatives recommended by WHO.

HSFB has been advocating for the last four years for the taxation of unhealthy foods and drinks; mandatory Front of Package Nutrition Labelling and the implementation of School Nutrition Policy which includes banning the sale and marketing of unhealthy foods in schools.

Currently NCDs including cardio vascular disease, are responsible for eight out of every ten deaths in Barbados.

The Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley, called on drinks manufacturers to “bring down the sugar level of the drinks as she proposed the increase in the SSB tax from 10 per cent  to 20 per cent  during her Budget Presentation on March 14th, 2022.

HSFB is the premier provider of rehabilitation and preventative services around cardio vascular health in Barbados including a Yute Gym service, offering physical activity and nutritional guidance to youngsters under the age of 18 years old.