Yes, The Government Should Tax Soft Drinks

Findings from a Citizens’ Jury in Australia

Bibliographic Data

ID15512256
AuthorsNicole Moretto (0000-0001-7999-608X, Griffith University), Elizabeth Kendall (0000-0003-2399-1460, Griffith University), Jennifer A Whitty (0000-0002-5886-1933, Griffith University), Jennifer Whitty (0000-0003-0829-6021, Griffith University), Joshua Byrnes (0000-0001-6562-711X, Griffith University), Andrew P Hills (0000-0002-7787-7201, Griffith University), Andrew Hills (The University of Queensland), Louisa G Gordon (0000-0002-3159-4249, Griffith University), Louisa Gordon (Griffith University), Erika Turkstra (0000-0002-7914-2102, Griffith University), P Scuffham (0000-0001-5931-642X, Griffith University), T Comans (0000-0003-2840-3496, Griffith University, corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume11
Issue3
Pages2456-2471
Publication date2014-02-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph110302456
PMID24583829
PMCIDPMC3986986
OpenAlexW2085598961
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited21

Taxation has been suggested as a possible preventive strategy to address the serious public health concern of childhood obesity. Understanding the public's viewpoint on the potential role of taxation is vital to inform policy decisions if they are to be acceptable to the wider community. A Citizens' Jury is a deliberative method for engaging the public in decision making and can assist in setting policy agendas. A Citizens' Jury was conducted in Brisbane, Australia in May 2013 to answer the question: Is taxation on food and drinks an acceptable strategy to the public in order to reduce rates of childhood obesity? Citizens were randomly selected from the electoral roll and invited to participate. Thirteen members were purposively sampled from those expressing interest to broadly reflect the diversity of the Australian public. Over two days, participants were presented with evidence on the topic by experts, were able to question witnesses and deliberate on the evidence. The jurors unanimously supported taxation on sugar-sweetened drinks but generally did not support taxation on processed meats, snack foods and foods eaten/ purchased outside the home. They also supported taxation on snack foods on the condition that traffic light labelling was also introduced. Though they were not specifically asked to deliberate strategies outside of taxation, the jurors strongly recommended more nutritional information on all food packaging using the traffic light and teaspoon labelling systems for sugar, salt and fat content. The Citizens' Jury suggests that the general public may support taxation on sugar-sweetened drinks to reduce rates of obesity in children. Regulatory reforms of taxation on sugar-sweetened drinks and improved labelling of nutritional information on product packaging were strongly supported by all members of the jury. These reforms should be considered by governments to prevent childhood obesity and the future burden on society from the consequences of obesity

Business · Government (linguistics · Jury · Political science · Financial Literacy, Pension, Retirement Analysis · Gambling Behavior and Treatments · Law · Taxation and Compliance Studies

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