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The government plans to introduce new legislation next year aimed at curbing the consumption of sugary drinks, part of a wider strategy to promote healthy living and reduce diet-related illnesses.
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Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant announced the initiative during Thursday’s post-Cabinet press briefing, linking it to the administration’s ongoing efforts to make nutritious foods more affordable through the suspension of the Common External Tariff (CET) on essential items.
“Government is not only on a drive to reduce prices but also to ensure that we develop in our people the need to eat healthy,” Merchant said. “Sugar is the demon of all foods.”
He added that the legislation on sugary drinks “should go to Parliament in the first quarter of next year.”
The measure will form part of a broader health policy framework that complements recent food price interventions and seeks to shift consumer behaviour toward better dietary choices.
While details of the proposed bill have not yet been released, Merchant emphasized that the Gaston Browne administration intends to go beyond existing CARICOM health commitments by taking proactive steps to address non-communicable diseases linked to sugar consumption.
The announcement comes as regional governments explore similar tax and labeling policies to discourage excessive sugar intake, aligning Antigua and Barbuda’s approach with global health advocacy trends.
Officials say the legislation will reinforce the government’s twin objectives of making healthy foods more accessible while discouraging products that contribute to obesity, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.
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A tax on sugary drinks!!!
Doesn’t sound too bad to me.
Thats because of my selfishness.
Why?
I avoid sugary drinks.
However, is that the solution?
No.
Sugary drinks are consumed mainly by the poor people.
That’s 95 percent of the population.
They know the consequences of the sugary drinks.
Do they want to indulge in constantly drinking the sugary drinks?
No.
They do so because that’s what they can afford.
They know that the sugary drinks are not healthy.
They would all prefer a healthy drink.
Sadly obtaining that healthy drink is out of their pockets.
The wealthy do not have a problem.
They do not have to drink the sugary drinks.
While a tax would make it out of reach for the poor I think it would have been better if the government would decrease the tax on the healthy drinks and make them more accessible to the poor.
Imposing the tax is not the solution.
It will still be the accessible one to the poor.
It would be a better idea if the government outrightly impose a ban on the importation of those sugary drinks and decrease the tax on the healthy drinks.
That may be the solution and would lead to a decrease in NCDs..
Bullying tactics never make the problem go away.
They’re after the price hike to dissuade people “for their health”….I laughed at this because if they really cared about people’s health they would make healthy food cheaper not cheap food more expensive. They just keep finding ways to tax people and make more money and that’s all they’re really after. They don’t actually care about anyone.
@ Straight Shooter
Please go to the Head of the Class, what a great idea. The bald plated ONE could not come up with anything as brilliant as that. Where is Chet when we need to hear from him
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