CHE FU's 'Binge Drinking' No Reason for Soft Drink Tax on All Kiwis

Responding to the feature in today's New Zealand Herald on efforts to promote a sugar tax on soft drinks, Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union says:

"Kiwis are already taxed too much. Why should the irresponsible behaviour of Che Fu and others, chugging down three litres of soft drink a day, justify taxing the rest of us%3F"

“Every country that has tried to tax sugar has failed to make a dent on harmful consumption."

"Likening sugar to tobacco shows that this isn’t about science. It’s a taxpayer funded campaign to promote a tax that has failed in countries that have tried it," says Mr Williams.

In the article, Dr Gerhard Sundborn says that ‘Fizz' wants sugar%2Dsweetened soft drinks gone in New Zealand by 2025 and in the wider Pacific five years later.

In February the Taxpayers’ Union caught out Dr Sundborn and his 'Fizz' group falsely claiming official endorsement from the Health Research Council. Despite claiming to be about science, February’s 'Fizz' conference included topics such as 'recruiting media to mobilise public support' and 'lessons learned from advocacy experience’.
“It appears that Dr Sundborn and hi
s group are doing well getting media attention for their cause. They use activism science but ignore the lessons from counties that have tried to tax fats and sugar,” concludes Mr Williams.

ENDS

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