The head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Health of the Nation, Medical Care and Health Insurance Mikhail Radutsky proposes to discuss the introduction of a new tax. It is proposed to tax sugary carbonated drinks.
This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing Radutsky's statement on Facebook.
"What scenarios exist to solve the problem of excessive consumption of sweetened carbonated beverages in our country? How to find a balance between the interests of society, consumers and producers? Our Committee is ready to act as a platform for dialogue and development of legislative initiatives," he wrote.
As the deputy noted, every year more and more countries around the world introduce a special tax on carbonated beverages. Kazakhstan and Israel have recently joined the list of more than 65 countries. In Israel, the tax will take effect next year. For drinks containing more than 5 grams of sugar per 100 grams of liquid, an additional 1 shekel per liter (€0.3) must be paid.
"According to a WHO report, an increase in the price of sugary drinks by even 20% leads to a decrease in their consumption and encourages consumers to switch to healthier alternatives," he added.
Radutsky said that unlike sugar from food, sugar from beverages (especially carbonated ones) is absorbed too quickly, which overloads the pancreas and liver, leading over time to diabetes, cardiovascular system disorders, damage to blood vessels, obesity and gastrointestinal diseases.