Experts call for increased taxes on sugary drinks

'One of the major causes of type 2 diabetes is the use of sugary drinks'

RAWALPINDI:

There should be a tax hike on sugar-sweetened beverages as the cases of diabetes and heart-related diseases are on the rise in the country.

This was the crux of the views expressed at a special session held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of President Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) Ashraf Khan on Prevention of Sweet Drinks by Health Experts and Proposals on Tax Policy.

“Our diet plays an important part in diseases including heart disease and other diseases. Therefore, we must pay attention to our diet,” said PANAH president.

He added that one of the major causes of diseases, including heart ailments, obesity, diabetes, cancer is the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. So avoiding unhealthy foods to prevent disease also includes sugar-sweetened beverages.

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Dr Abdul Qayyum said that with the passage of time human priorities have also changed. "Fresh and natural food has been replaced by unhealthy foods and sugar-sweetened beverages.”

Squadron Leader Ghulam Abbas said that the consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks was a major cause of heart diseases, diabetes, obesity and other non-communicable diseases.

PANAH General Secretary Sanaullah Ghumman said that over 300,000 participants in their 11 studies on the link between sugar-sweetened beverages and diabetes said that one of the major causes of type 2 diabetes was the use of sugary drinks.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2022.