The extra tax on soft drinks, which is intended to ensure that we consume less sugar, mainly increases the state’s coffers. But it doesn’t make us any less fat. Experts believe that a different approach is necessary.
With the start of the new year, the so-called ‘consumption tax’ on non-alcoholic drinks increased. It rose from 9 cents to 26 cents per liter.
‘Measure not implemented consistently’
The idea behind it: tackling obesity. “We all consume too much sugar and that is found in soft drinks, among other things. If you make sugary drinks more expensive, people are more likely to choose cheaper drinks without sugar, is the idea behind the measure,” says nutritionist Michelle van Roost.
But the health benefit is probably minimal. “This is because the measure has not been implemented consistently. It does not take into account the amount of sugar in drinks. Cola, which can contain a lot of sugar, is taxed just as heavily as flavored water. While flavored water is the healthier choice.”
‘No incentive for consumers and producers’
Van Roost also finds it strange that Chocomel and Fristi, which both contain a lot of sugar, are excluded because they fall under dairy. “In this way, the tax contributes little to better public health, but mainly fills the government coffers,” says the nutritionist.
According to the Budget Memorandum, the tax increase will generate almost 400 million annually for the state treasury. “And the consumer is the loser. He has to pay more, that’s what it comes down to. Whether he buys Diet Coke or Coke with sugar: it’s just as expensive. There’s no incentive in that. In this way, manufacturers are also not incentivized to to take out the sugar.”
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Tax all sugary products
“If we really want to do something about the obesity of Dutch people, we must focus more on healthy choices. One of the measures could be a ‘smart sugar tax’: the more sugar, the more tax you pay,” says Van Roost . “Now it is very confusing for consumers, because drinks are taxed equally, regardless of sugar content.”
“Now take flavored water. It often only contains aromas, but some do contain sugar. You just don’t see that easily on the label. So it would be useful if the price also sent you to a healthier choice.
Unhealthy groceries
That is why the nutritionist also wants a tax on food with a high sugar content, such as cookies and sweets. And she believes that taxes should be reduced on healthy food, such as fruit and vegetables.
In her opinion, there is also a task for supermarkets: “We really have to organize them differently. Now 80 percent of what is on the shelves is unhealthy. We have to ensure that at least 50 percent of the range is the healthier choice and that you don’t have to look for healthy products.”
‘Come with the right incentives’
Like Van Roost, Taco Jurian of the Dutch association Soft Drinks, Waters, Juices (FWS) also believes that the current approach produces too little. “We basically understand that fiscal instruments are being looked at to encourage healthy behavior. But this measure actually has nothing to do with that,” he says.
“If you want manufacturers to put less sugar in their products and consumers to consume less sugar, then you have to come up with the right incentives. And this ‘consumption tax’ is not that,” says Juriaanse.
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‘Great Britain is doing well’
Many people in the Netherlands are overweight. It applies to 100,000 Dutch children alone. The number of teenagers with ‘old-age diabetes’, diabetes type 2, is increasing. All these children are at risk of visual impairment, cardiovascular disease and kidney problems later in life.
“The health of our population is at stake. I find it incomprehensible that it takes so long to take good measures. In Great Britain they are now further along than us and are achieving their first successes.”
Nutritionist Michelle van Roost is referring to the ‘sugar tax’ that was introduced there in 2018. “This tax applies to soft drinks, but also to biscuits and cakes with a high sugar content. In addition, no VAT is charged on fruit and vegetables. I would like us to do this in the Netherlands as well.”
Adopt English model
We would be better off adopting the English model, Taco Juiaanse agrees. “That is a lot more effective than what we currently do in the Netherlands. Soft drinks contain approximately 15 percent of all sugars consumed. Here too, all products that contain a lot of sugar must be included.” Why that hasn’t happened yet is a mystery to him.
“All kinds of arguments are used about the fact that it is complicated and that the Dutch systems are not yet set up for it. But at FWS we have the idea that it is possible. A bit based on the motto: where there is a will, there is a way. We have a major public health problem, so we have to do everything we can.”
14 percent less soft drinks
Outgoing State Secretary Maarten van Ooijen of Health said through his spokesperson that the increase in the consumption tax on soft drinks ‘provides extra money for important plans and reduces excessive consumption of soft drinks.
“Researchers expect that as a result of this increase, approximately 14 percent less soft drinks will be used annually, a total of approximately 384 million liters less will be sold. That is quite something from a public health perspective.”
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‘Deadlines in the coalition agreement’
When asked why they did not wait until a measure that was more effective for health was ready, Van Ooijen answers: “That has to do with the deadlines set in the coalition agreement. This was part of the financial agreements to implement the to increase taxes on soft drinks, among other things.”
“That is why we have chosen to do two things at the same time, namely by working hard on a smart variant of the consumption tax. This should at least have the effect that, for example, oat milk without sugar or other drinks without sugar appear in a completely different tax category then cola with a lot of sugar. This was not possible in one go due to the time pressure agreed in the coalition agreement.”
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The tax on soft drinks fills the public purse, but does not make us less fat
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2024-02-10 17:21:21
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