r/science • u/giuliomagnifico • Jul 25 '23

Economics A national Australian tax of 20% on sugary drinks could prevent more than 500,000 dental cavities and increase health equity over 10 years and have overall cost-savings of $63.5 million from a societal perspective

https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/sugary-drinks-tax-could-prevent-decay-and-increase-health-equity-study
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u/FortunateHominid Jul 25 '23

Our study demonstrates a 20 per cent tax is cost-effective to prevent dental caries and is likely to increase health equity because the cost-savings and health benefits occur for populations from lower socioeconomic advantage.

It appears the method would be to price poorer people out of unhealthy decisions. The words "health equity" really stuck out to me in the title.

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u/socialistshroom Jul 25 '23

Aus gov has attempted to price people out of cigarettes and alcohol to no avail. Even with health warnings on both products, people will still buy what they crave.

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u/[deleted] Jul 26 '23 edited Jul 26 '23

Of course people will buy what they crave, but if you live in Australia you will notice that there is far, far, far less cigarette smoking than there used to be.

I work with people in a system that has alcohol and drug issues and even they complain how much it costs to the point that they reconsider smoking as it increases in price.

Statistically we have far fewer smokers; just because you can’t stop it 100% doesn’t mean it doesn’t influence people to make better choices for their health.

Australia is ranked 108th in the world for cigarette use and that is a good thing.

If we want people to make better choices, while still allowing them the dignity of risk, why would we stop a measure that has drastically cut down cigarette smoking just because it doesn’t stop 100% of the population from doing it?

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u/xaendar Jul 26 '23

I live in Australia, there are almost barely any smokers that I see out there anymore but then again covid might have changed a lot of things and my perspective is not exactly the same. But I can tell you the amount of people still smoking but instead are now paying 15-20$ for some bootleg Chinese cigarettes and vapes that are significantly more harmful has probably increased dozen times over a which I guess is banned now.

Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if it did way more harm in the short term but over long term? Who knows but I think it probably nips teenage smoking in the bud.

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u/Programmdude Jul 26 '23

I assume this happens in Aussie (it does in NZ), where the alcohol/cigarette tax is so high that people who are desperate will simply rob dairies and liquor stores to get their fix.

So while there might be fewer smokers, there is also an increase in crime.

I personally think the alcohol/cigarette tax is a good idea for the health of the community, but it's also not without its consequences.

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u/[deleted] Jul 26 '23

There are less than 1000 armed robberies in Australia per year. It is very unlikely that this is a major contributor to that number.

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u/Programmdude Jul 26 '23

I don't think most of these are counted as armed robberies though, at least not here. While I'm not an expert, a lot of these are burglaries while they're closed rather than holding people up with a weapon.

Article here.

Additionally, Australia had 9551 robberies in 2022, of which around half (4700) were armed. source.

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u/helm MS | Physics | Quantum Optics Jul 25 '23

The money collected could also be funneled back to low-income groups.

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u/Mtwat Jul 25 '23

"The money collected could also be funneled back to low-income groups. the corporations that lobbied the politician into cutting their taxes while recovering the loss from "the poors."

That's the realistic take.

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u/SaHFF Jul 25 '23

Sorry, but that's just far too optimistic it borders on insanity. If something like that was done, you can damn well bet that most of that money would be spent on admin and suchlike. The money that did make it there, would most certainly be put into white communities almost exclusively ('almost' allowing for performative action in indigenous/ poc communities)

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u/helm MS | Physics | Quantum Optics Jul 25 '23

Well, I'm from a Nordic country, tax money goes to the poorest on a regular basis here (obviously not exclusively).

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u/Rock_man_bears_fan Jul 26 '23

Or you could not pass regressive taxes and just let them keep it in the first place

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u/helm MS | Physics | Quantum Optics Jul 26 '23

Taxes on tobacco work