Doctors welcome tax on sugary drinks

With consumers set to pay at least $12 more for a 600-millilitre soda when the tax on sugary drinks takes effect, the island's doctors are declaring that the short-term pinch at the cash register could translate into long-term relief for the nation's overburdened health system.

The Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) says while it understands public unease about higher prices, the Special Consumption Tax (SCT) on sugary drinks is a necessary intervention to confront Jamaica's growing non-communicable disease (NCD) crisis.

"We understand and appreciate the anxiety that the prospect of increased taxation induces in the citizenry, especially for the poor and vulnerable in the society," the group of doctors said.

"We empathise with the parent who perceives that this tax will increase the pressure to find additional funds for lunch money for school, or that food intake will have to be decreased to match the fixed available funds," it added.

But therein lies the paradox. It is precisely that behaviour or mindset that we wish to change; that is, the belief that somehow sugar sweetened beverages are essential components of the diet."

The MAJ argued that sugary drinks offer little nutritional value but carry significant health risks. High sugar consumption, particularly from sodas, can alter children's taste preferences, making healthier options such as water less appealing.

It said the intake of sugary drinks has been associated with poor dental health, increased rates of obesity in both children and adults, and higher incidences of NCDs such as diabetes and hypertension. These effects, the association noted, could be mitigated by switching from sugar sweetened beverages to water.