THE TAX on sweet drinks has fizzled out.
Minister of Health John Boyce said yesterday the tax that was expected to reduce the consumption of sweetened drinks and juices did not have the expected impact.
“We are assessing the success of that programme, but even from here we can see that it has not necessarily had the impact that we would have hoped and that there is still that wanton consumption of sugary beverages,” he said.
Boyce, who has responsibility for protecting the public health, was speaking at a health fair at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP). He said obesity and overweight in children were cause for concern. He pointed out that the World Health Organisation World School Health Survey done in 2012, that included 26 schools, showed that 31.5 per cent of students were overweight and 14.4 per cent obese. (LK)
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