A new Australian study suggests a 20 per cent tax on sugary drinks may prevent 3.7 million cases of tooth decay as well as 306,000 cases of gum disease or complete tooth loss nationally.

Health experts have thrown their support behind the proposal, which aligns with long-standing recommendations from the World Health Organization.

Researchers suggest money generated from the proposed tax could be used to strengthen oral health services, improving access and cutting costs at the dentist.

  • kalpol@lemmy.caEnglish
    12·
    24 hours ago

    This just means more corn syrup. A lot of things are sweet, and way worse for you than sugar.

    • arbilp3@aussie.zoneOPEnglish
      2·
      14 hours ago

      Sugary drinks would include those sweetened by corn syrup (fructose) and from cane sugar (sucrose). They would be taxed no matter the source. Most fizzy sweet drinks have an excess of sugar no matter where it comes from.

      • kalpol@lemmy.caEnglish
        2·
        17 hours ago

        Is it though? Legally? My point is that the law has to be explicit about what is taxed. Manufacturers will figure out ways around it and we will just end up paying more for sugar to make our banana bread or whatever.

        • yistdaj@pawb.socialEnglish
          1·
          4 hours ago

          Yes, corn syrup is a sugar. It shows up as such, by law, in nutrition tables.

          Sugar is a broad category referring to many different compounds. If it’s a carbohydrate that is sweet and dissolves in water, it’s a sugar.