Almost half of Australians would unequivocally support a ‘sugar tax’ to help fund programs to fight their damaging effects, including those on oral health, a study has shown.

The survey, conducted by Research Australia, has shown that 45% of respondents would ‘definitely’ support a tax on soft drinks, sport and energy drinks containing excess sugar if the revenues raised were used to fund programs to reduce the damaging health effects associated with such drinks.

Among the respondents, the strongest support (65%) was among those aged over 65 and among those living in rural areas (56%).

Almost 30% said they would ‘probably’ support such a tax, while only 13% said ‘definitely no’.

ADA NSW has recommended the implementation of a Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Levy as part of a comprehensive program aimed at educating the public on limiting their consumption of drinks and increasing awareness of the health impacts on these drinks.

ADA NSW believes such an initiative would make significant gains towards the control of three major diet-related diseases - tooth decay, obesity and diabetes - that are threatening Australian’s health.

A new public health campaign that mocks the glamour of soft drink advertisements and urging Australians to consider the impact of sugary drinks on their teeth was launched earlier this year.

The Rethink Sugary Drink health campaign features young people drinking red cans of a drink that appears to contain cola, before flashing smiles that reveal rotten teeth.

The survey was among several studies carried out by Research Australia assessing attitudes towards the nation’s current key health debates.
 

For more information on the study, click here

For more information on ADA NSW’s views on a sugar tax, click here

For more information on Research Australia, click here