Health Minister demands 20% tax on soft drinks to help combat obesity
Health Minister Leo Varadkar has today called for a 20% tax on soft drinks to be introduced in the upcoming Budget.
Leo Varadkar was speaking at the launch of the Healthy Ireland survey by his Department, which showed that 60% of the Irish public are either overweight or obese.
Minister for Health at launch of Healthy Ireland Survey #HISurvey pic.twitter.com/MUxFYnIy02
— HealthyIreland (@HealthyIreland) October 7, 2015
It also found that less than a third of the population is "sufficiently active" - with the average Irish person sitting for five hours every day.
Overall, four out of five claim to be in good health, although only one in three people are getting enough exercise, and snacking is also a vice the majority of us admit to indulging in every day.
However, there are now more adults ex-smokers than smokers and most people eat fruit and vegetables each day.
Leo Varadkar said he has written to Finance Minister Michael Noonan asking for a 20% tax on sugar-sweetened drinks in an effort to tackle obesity.
"It should be a part of the suite of measures that we do," he said.
"Because obesity is caused by so many different things, it's going to require a whole different set of measures to tackle it, but obviously tax policy is a matter for the Minister for Finance, I can only put forward proposals, and I have done that."
The spread at Healthy Ireland launch (which says 60% are overweight or obese) is ehh... not entirely healthy. pic.twitter.com/k41EutgQpk
— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) October 7, 2015
He added: "There have been some positive changes since the SLAN survey in 2007 including a further drop in smoking rates, and the incidence of overweight has actually levelled off, while levels of regular exercise are rising.
"However, we still face some serious risks to the future health of the nation including alcohol misuse or harmful drinking patterns, and the significant number of people who still do not take enough exercise or who are overweight.
.@campaignforleo #HISurvey empowers individuals, families & communities to look after their health & wellbeing pic.twitter.com/lsttKneTJU
— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) October 7, 2015
"This survey gives us some really useful information and will be repeated every year.
"What you don’t measure, you can’t improve. It will feed into new policies on obesity, sexual health, and physical activity, and further legislation to control tobacco use.
"And we will shortly publish the Public Health Alcohol Bill. But it’s important to recognise that society as a whole needs to work with the Government to address these issues. And Healthy Ireland provides the perfect framework for that task."
The survey has also provided evidence about issues such as social connectedness, dementia awareness and wellbeing.
Interesting findings in the Healthy Ireland Survey include:
* 47% of the population participate in a social group
* 85% of the population report their health as being good or very good but 28% has a long standing disease or health problem
* 50% of the population know at least one person with dementia
* Higher levels of positive mental health were recorded among men than women
* 9% of the population were considered to have probable mental health problems
