According to Taiwanese media, including the Yonhap News Agency, 73.8% of the respondents supported the imposition of a sugar tax in an online survey of 1,113 Taiwanese conducted by the Taiwan Health Federation (THA) on the 30th.
In addition, 39.9% of the respondents drink sugary drinks more than three times a week, and 92.3% said they thought sugary drinks were unhealthy.
Citing statistics from Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Taiwan Health Federation said that the number of diabetic patients in Taiwan’s population (about 23 million) has already exceeded 2.5 million.
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) limits daily sugar intake to 25 grams, the sugar content of Jeonju Nai Tea, Taiwan’s representative beverage 700 ㏄ milk bubble tea, is known to exceed 60 grams.
The introduction of the sugar tax can raise the price of sugar-added drinks and implement tax preferential policies for sugar-free drinks, which have been cited as the main cause of obesity and diabetes, an official at the Taiwan Health Federation said.
JULIE KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
