Question

Read the following paragraph and select whether the statement is True or False. Liquid sugar is particularly harmful and toxic to the system and very addictive. It is very much a precursor to diabetes and hypertension which is costing the country billions - both the medical care system, which can't afford it, and their families. South Africa's sugar tax, which has been in place since 2018, has seen mostly cold drink manufacturers decrease the sugar content of their products or introduce "zero sugar" variants that replace the item with artificiál sweeteners. This has largely not been the case with energy drinks. Under the sugar tax, manufacturers of sugary drinks are charged a levy on the sale of their products, making them costlier, in the hope of discouraging consumers from the products as part of the government's health drive. The sugar tax legislation has resulted in a decrease in the amount of sugar in energy drinks. Select one! True x False​

Answer 1

The statement is False; the sugar tax legislation in South Africa did not lead to a significant reduction in sugar content in energy drinks. Excessive sugar intake from sugary drinks can cause serious health problems, while sugar taxes aim to discourage consumption and alleviate both health and economic impacts.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that the sugar tax legislation has resulted in a decrease in the amount of sugar in energy drinks is False. The paragraph specifies that while cold drink manufacturers have decreased the sugar content or introduced "zero sugar" variants, this shift has largely not been the case with energy drinks. The implication here is that energy drink manufacturers have not significantly reduced sugar content in response to the sugar tax.

Excessive consumption of sugary drinks is linked to various health issues, including dental caries, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Despite the introduction of sugar taxes aimed to discourage consumption and mitigate health risks, some products, such as energy drinks, have not substantially reduced their sugar content.

Moreover, the high costs associated with sugar subsidies and tariffs can lead to economic consequences, such as job losses in sugar-using industries and higher product prices for consumers. Sugar tax policies, like South Africa's, strive to address these health and economic concerns by making sugary drinks more expensive and less appealing to consumers.

Learn more about Sugar Tax Legislation here: