Calls have been made to debate the question of a soft drinks tax in Australia to help curb obesity.
University of Adelaide research fellow Caroline Miller said tax on soft drinks hasn’t been fully debated at a health policy level, the AAP reported.
“There is an opportunity here for Australia to show its leadership once again,” she said at a lecture in Adelaide.
“For many years Australia has been a world leader in tobacco control, and now has among the lowest rates of smoking in the world.
“This is due to health professionals and policy makers alike recognising that smoking is major a public health problem requiring a public health response.
“Many of the lessons we’ve learned in reducing smoking could also be applied to the over-consumption of unhealthy food and beverages, such as soft drinks.”