Taxation for alcohol and sugary beverages is down for discussion when Saint Lucia’s National Consumers Association (NCA) executive meets on Thursday.
Earlier this week, the World Health Organization (WHO) released new data showing a low global tax rate on unhealthy products such as alcohol and sugary sweetened beverages.
The WHO said the findings highlighted that most countries were not using taxes to incentivise healthier behaviours.
NCA President Dr. Thecla Fitz-Lewis said when her Association meets on Thursday, it will discuss the issue and present its views to the public.
However, she was willing to offer her a personal perspective.
Fitz-Lewis told St. Lucia Times that Saint Lucia has many issues with Non-Communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
She observed that empirical data and research show an inextricable link to alcohol and sugary products.
Fitz-Lewis spoke on the margins of a Consumer International Congress in Kenya via telephone.
At the event, she disclosed a round-table discussion occurred regarding soft drinks and sugary items that do not carry taxes.
The NCA President said those items were easy to buy, whereas healthy foods are expensive.
As a result, she spoke of the need for conversation regarding how serious the country is regarding the health of its people.
In addition, Fitz-Lewis noted the need for appropriate legislation as eating healthy is beyond what the ordinary citizen can afford.
The NCA President observed that taxes from unhealthy foods could fund health-care initiatives.
“This is a conversation that we need to have,” Fitz-Lewis stated.
Who are a joke when COVID appeared there was no need to panic and that person came on TV and said so so there you have it how real these people are just another big business puppet just out for a pay day an now encouraging government to tax working people on a rum of a beer and the kids coala these drink may not be good for you but working people after a week’s hard work may want a drink but it looking like the only people who will afford it will be the rich
More tax on the poor who are just a big business puppet and now st Lucia have jumped on the band waggon more pollution pumped out of a car that will do you harm than a rum you may have now and again but I guess this government will approve it so you will have to dig deep for a rum. But the rich are not bothered
a rum but it won t make a dee
Lower the price of simple tings like bottled water in the schools,water should b half price of a soda u would think it’s being imported from antartica
Them alcoholics:
WHY ISN’T LOWERING THE TAX ON HEALTHY FOOD, MEDICATION, KEEPING FIT EQUIPMENT AND INCOME TAX EXEMPTION FOR GYM OWNERS AN OPTION? OUR GRANDPARENTS ATE THE FAT FROM THE ANIMALS, DRUNK LOTS OF CANE JUICE AND OTHER SUGARY PRODUCTS AS FUEL FOR THEIR VERY ACTIVE LIFESTYLE. IS IT THE INTENTION TO COLLECT MORE REVENUE FOR SALARIES AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FINANCING HEALTHCARE OR CURBING UNHEALTHY PRACTICES?
Yes please do that. I bust my tail in the gym almost every day. I walk another 10 miles for the week. I eat as healthily as possible. I avoid junk food. Yet I am being taxed an additional 2.5% for a health levy for those lazy, fat, kfc gobbling, rum drinkers? How is that right? Tax those bad habits and remove taxes on gym equipment, healthy foods and anything that would promote well being. See how much healthier the population would become.
Usually these announcements are a precursor to government plans to increase taxes. We wait…