"Mexico is one of the world's top consumers of sugary drinks, with Mexicans consuming on average 166 litres of soda per year. This has had a devastating impact on the country's health: one in three Mexican children are overweight or obese while, at 100,000 deaths a year, diabetes is the nation's second-leading cause of death. 'It's deadlier than the drugs trade,' said Viri Rios, a Mexican public policy analyst."
"The country has for years tried to tackle the problem, implementing a then-groundbreaking 10% tax on all sweetened beverages in 2014, which helped to reduce consumption by nearly 10%. Then in 2020, the country passed a law requiring warning labels on food and drink packages that contained excess sugar, calories, sodium or saturated fat including soft drinks. Meanwhile, earlier this year, a law took effect banning junk food in schools, including sodas."
Mexico proposed nearly doubling the tax on sugary drinks from 1.64 pesos (9 cents) per liter to 3.08 pesos per liter in the 2026 budget. The measure aims to reduce consumption of soft drinks and address obesity and diabetes. Mexicans consume on average 166 litres of soda per year. One in three Mexican children are overweight or obese. Diabetes causes about 100,000 deaths per year and is the nation's second-leading cause of death. Earlier measures included a 2014 10% tax on sweetened beverages that reduced consumption by nearly 10%, 2020 warning-label laws for high-sugar products, and a recent ban on junk food in schools. The tax increase is presented as a way to encourage healthier habits and offset treatment costs for diseases linked to sugary drinks.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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