THERE has been a mixed reaction to the recent suggestion for a soda tax to encourage Malaysians to adopt a healthy lifestyle besides generating additional revenue for the government. Some have called for the tax to be extended to raw sugar and all high-sugar content food while others are concerned over its impact on the people’s cost of living. There are some who question the effectiveness of the tax in changing people’s lifestyle for health benefits and even pointed out its negative economic consequences.
Under Goal 3 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Good Health and Wellbeing – one of the targets by 2030 is to reduce premature mortality due to non-communicable diseases by one-third through prevention and treatment, and to promote mental health and wellbeing.
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