CHENNAI: A collection of medical professionals from the India, US, UK, Brazil and Mexico have come out with a petition in support of a sin tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) in India.
The statement, mailed to key MPs and ministries, notes that a changing diet is leading to an alarming increase in rate of obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases in India.
“India stands to reverse decades of public health gains if these trends are left unaddressed,” the statement warned, adding, “an increasing body of new public health research shows that SSBs pose a unique risk of increasing risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.”
India’s Chief Economic Advisor has proposed increasing sin taxes on SSBs and treating them similar to tobacco. The proposal is expected to come up for a vote in the Indian parliament as part of the larger Goods and Services Tax Bill.
