Activist Academics Repeat Call for Soda Tax
Reacting to the call for soda taxes from University of Auckland Professor Boyd Swinburn, and University of Otago Associate Professor, Nick Wilson, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, says:
"Denmark’s tax on saturated fat introduced in 2011 was an economic disaster. The Danish tax was abandoned 15 months
later and did little, if anything, to reduce harmful consumption. Worse, it was estimated to have cost 1,300 jobs. Why
would New Zealand want to repeat this mistake?"
"Taxing the Kiwi tradition of a warm pie and can of cola won’t reduce obesity. The overseas experience tells us that it
just leads to compensatory purchasing and brand switching."
“There is no doubt that we have an obesity problem in New Zealand. But health academics too often ignore the economic
evidence that taxing an inelastic product won’t affect the consumption of those consuming too much. Tap water is free,
but people still choose to pay for bottled water. A tax on soda won’t stop people from over-indulging."
ENDS