A Mexican state bans the sale of junk food and sweetened beverages to children
The Congress of Oaxaca passed a law this week that bans the sale of junk food and sugary drinks to minors. With approximately 73% of Mexicans being obese and with Oaxaca has the highest rates of childhood obesity among the country’s 32 states, the state legislature took this drastic step.
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Mexicans drink a lot of carbonated sweetened beverages with each person drinking on average an estimated 163 litres per year. That is more than an average American who drinks 118 litres per year.
In 2014, Mexico introduced a national tax on sugary drinks and junk food - a 10% tax on every litre of sugar-sweetened drinks and an 8% tax on high-calorie food. According to research by Mexico's National Institute of Public Health, together with the University of North Carolina, in the first year the tax reduced consumption of sugary drinks by an average of 6% over the 12 months, reaching 12% by the month of December. This is being disputed by drink manufacturers though.
Do soda taxes and food bans work? If not, what else can we do? The pandemic reminded us what a health risk obesity is and there is concern that a vaccine, when it comes along will be less effective in people who are obese.